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Audax + sportives 2017

(282 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by chdot
  • Latest reply from Murun Buchstansangur

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  1. HankChief
    Member

    I think it comes down volume of riders.

    Closed roads allow you to get a greater volume of riders on an event.

    Without closed roads, even with spreading out the start times anything approaching 1,000 riders will be become a problem on the roads.

    My first (open road) event was the 2013 Tour o' the Borders with biblical rain. One of the problems on that ride was the oncoming cyclists on Paddyslacks who had decided to pack it in - I didn't know that was an option...

    My first (closed road) event was the Etape Caledonia where I was placed in the last group to set off as I didn't guess my speed correctly and I ended up overtaking 2,000 people before I finished. That was a lot of fun :-)

    Each have their place in the calendar.

    I think people can be justifiably peeved if the roads are closed but the volume of riders don't necessitate it. Etape Pennines being one such event that only lasted a couple of years.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. stiltskin
    Member

    I thought the reason why the etape Penines folded was mainly because the start could not accommodate the numbers leading to chaos at the start. Whereas Caledonia starts in a town, the pennines started in the middle of nowhere. Down a singletrack road. Added to the fact that it was a really tough route = they could not attract casual cyclists

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. HankChief
    Member

    This is my recollection.

    I think there was 3 running if it. I did versions 2 & 3 both starting from Barnard Castle without bother. The 1st edition started somewher elsewhere.

    I think I remember hearing stories that the 1st edition was run anti-clockwise and the hills at the end caught loads of people out so the broom waggon was swamped.

    The 2nd edition was run in October clockwise with the hills first but we then had an horrendous headwind for the flatish return which I likened to a slow bicycle race.

    The 3rd edition was moved to July and shortened to something like 65miles which cut out the (temporary traffic light controlled) crossings of the A68 but also made it less of a challenge. Being in the summer the residents farmers were more aggrieved.

    I don't recall either event being above 1,000 in number, (although it was marketed for a more substantial attendance) and given that the roads are almost empty anyway the closures seemed excessive.

    I've also done a couple of Hell of Hexham which is open roads and covers much of the same roads without any traffic hassle and a fraction of the cost.

    That's just my recollection - I don't claim to have the inside scoop.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. HankChief
    Member

    http://road.cc/content/news/136611-have-we-reached-peak-sportive-etape-pennines-axed-due-lack-participant-interest

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. shuggiet
    Member

    Mini shuggiet was one of the first riders to come across the grumpy farmers, and is in all the photos. He largely shrugged it off, and said that the lead riders all slowed on approach to the farmers, because they initially believed they were moving sheep. When it became clear that they were intent of using their sticks, and no sheep involved, they moved on through. Their stick struck him a little bit (stung apparently), but were largely used as a barrier. Could easily have caught in spokes though.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. paddyirish
    Member

    @DaveC's organisational debut tomorrow for Borders of Fife (~200km ex Dalgety Bay) Forecast looks reasonable- dry with a moderate southerly, but it is great to have a start line less than a mile from my front door :-)

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. acsimpson
    Member

    Looks like we might actually get to ride in the same direction for once. I don't know how large the field is but I do know I'll be there.

    On a related note does anyone know if there are likely to be so many bikes on the train from Edinburgh that I'd struggle to get on at Edinburgh Gateway or would most people just drive to the start?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. paddyirish
    Member

    Will look out for you.

    I'd venture that the train will not be packed and that you would get away with a few more bikes than normal. Just have to hope that there is a reasonable guard. Start is only ~3km from Inverkeithing Station, so worst case, I'd get on the first train to there.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. rider73
    Member

    B, would be less than a mile for me too but i am on a course tomorrow and Sunday....grrrr

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. panyagua
    Member

    @rider73, you're too late to enter now anyway - entries closed several days ago.

    Sadly I'm not able to go either, despite the proximity of the start to my house.

    Due to a few diary clashes with the autumn events, the next Audax calendar event for me is likely to be next March's Forth and Tay. Will try to squeeze in a DIY or two before then though...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  11. rider73
    Member

    Where does one find out and register for these local rides? Thanks

    Posted 7 years ago #

  12. Cyclops
    Member

    "Where does one find out and register for these local rides?"

    http://www.aukweb.net/events/

    Posted 7 years ago #

  13. edinburgh87
    Member

    Anyone doing Etal-u-can from Galashiels in October?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  14. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    @edinburgh87 I am hoping to. Doesn't mean I'll do it though.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  15. amir
    Member

    Yep, I'm planning to do the Etal-u-can. And the Long Dark Teatime

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. paddyirish
    Member

    Borders of Fife was a real success today. A lovely route and great weather for it. Shame Paddy was late, fat and slow...

    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.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  17. edinburgh87
    Member

    @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)

    Posted 7 years ago #

  18. amir
    Member

    @edinburgh87 first bit of sage advice is don't get the lavender cake

    Posted 7 years ago #

  19. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    @edinburgh87 At Eskdalemuir can I recommend the apple pie and custard? I think it can be seen from space.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  20. Cyclops
    Member

    "don't get the lavender cake"

    +1 to that advice. I once heard it memorably described as "tastes like eating an old woman".

    Posted 7 years ago #

  21. amir
    Member

    So that's why the old ladies move so quickly in those parts

    Posted 7 years ago #

  22. ARobComp
    Member

    +1 Kudos to DaveC. Tour of the Borders was a really great route which, some road surfaces aside, I thoroughly enjoyed!

    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)

    I kept the pressure on hoping to finish relatively fast as
    a) wanted to see what the legs can do
    b) I had to get back to help the wife out with a massive todo list
    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.

    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.

    Awesome day out.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  23. rider73
    Member

    errr , theres slower people in these Audax's though...right? GULP!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  24. paddyirish
    Member

    @rider73

    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).

    Posted 7 years ago #

  25. edinburgh87
    Member

    @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

    Posted 7 years ago #

  26. rider73
    Member

    @paddyirish - phew - i'm hoping theres plenty of cake stops and food on the way round too.
    @edinburgh87 - mmmmmm beans on toast, good for you , but not for the rider behind :-)

    if anyone wants to do this as a social ride, i'll be keen!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  27. acsimpson
    Member

    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).

    The weather was almost perfect on the day. Sunny to start with but overcast later to ensure I stopped overheating.

    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).

    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.

    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.

    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).

    Posted 7 years ago #

  28. acsimpson
    Member

    @rider73,

    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.

    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.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  29. paddyirish
    Member

    @acsimpson

    + 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).

    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.

    One day will meet properly - I keep missing CCers, e.g. amir despite riding the same events.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  30. edinburgh87
    Member

    @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

    Posted 7 years ago #

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