@Greenroofer That you're admitting to doing this suggests you're already confident of managing it. Splitting it in two is clever. If it's enjoyable, it will become less enjoyable. If it's not enjoyable, it will become enjoyable (or something). As amir says, don't even try to do it if you're ill.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Audaxes + sportives 2019
(249 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Good advice from @amir and @cyclingmollie. I would only add that it has worked for me if I make the first day significantly longer than the second, so aim to do (say) 350km on day one, and 250 on day two. It makes for a very long first day, but you will likely get to sleep almost instantly, and the second day seems less daunting if you wake up with "only" 150 miles or so to do. You will be slower on day two almost regardless, so you won't feel under quite so much time pressure if you have less far to go.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Thanks all. I've heard that advice about audax (and in fact, life in general) before: "This too shall pass", and it's one worth remembering.
Good point about timing: must bear in mind that I can't expect to do the second half at the same speed as the first one.
Colds are an interesting one, and another good point. I've always worked on the principle that if it's only above the neck it's fine, but anything below the neck means lay off the exercise until you're better. Of course, on a two-day ride, what's true at the beginning may not apply on day two. I'm going to be washing my hands carefully for the next couple of weeks...
Posted 4 years ago # -
I did my first Audax Twilight Zone 300km from Gala on Saturday. Was really lovely and fun. We went through Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Longtown, Gretna/Springfield, Brompton, Alston and back (but without the detour to Gretna).
I found it quite funny that we went to England, then back to Scotland, then back to England before the final return to Scotland. Luckily no faffing with passport controls.
The route through Eskdalemuir was just lovely both ways. I cycled most of it on my own, as I was a bit behind on the way in and a bit ahead on the back of the tail group. We had nice tail-wind on the way back and I felt like I was sailing through the moors.
Cumbria was also very nice and not quite as autumnal as Scotland.
I was worried that my legs would not like the hilly terrain and would complain on the way back but they didn't. Quite surprising what the body can put up with.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Maybe Friday wasn't the best day to start my first 600km audax through the Borders. It was a DIY that had been in the diary for ages, and I'd even taken a day off work for it. The weather forecast improved all through the week, until Thursday, when it deteriorated into an accurate prediction of torrential rain for most of the day. Anyway...
Day 1 - Left at 0600. Carlisle and back, down via Granites, Eskdalemuir, Castle O'er and Longtown. Back via Ecclefechan, Moffat, A701, Moor Road. On this ride I learned that if you sit on a leather saddle in the pouring rain for 18 hours, you will ruin it (it's now got an off-centre dent in it). Also, it's hedge cutting season in Dumfriesshire, but luckily when there's six inches of standing water on the road, all the bits of hawthorn float, and don't cause a puncture hazard. Day 1 verged on Type 3 fun at some points, due to the rain, although the ascent of the Devil's Beef Tub as the sun was setting was very pretty.
Back home by 2230.
Day 2 - Left home at 0515. Lang Whang, Tarbrax, Biggar, Peebles, Kelso, Berwick upon Tweed, Dunbar, Tranent. On this ride I learned that it's really important to check the route that your software has given you. There was a bit of the NCN1 near Caddonfoot that I hadn't noticed had crept in (and is different to the way I normally go there), and turned out to be a couple of miles of really rough track suitable only for a mountain bike and covered in slurry. Day 2 was mostly Type 2 fun: the weather was benign and the views lovely, but I was conscious of the clock ticking (and the miles already in my legs).
Back home just after 2300, so getting the full value of my 42 hours.
I rode on some lovely roads (the A199 across East Lothian was my favourite: straight and smooth and perfect for tapping out the miles) and some appalling bits of 'infrastructure': the aforementioned section of NCN near Caddonfoot, and another bit near Longtown, both really only suitable for mountain bikes.
So, all being well, that's everything I need for an SR for this year.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Greenroofer, well done. Friday looked torrential from the office window. Not a day I'd want to be out. A long time to sustain a positive mental attitude on your own. That is a well deserved SR.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Many many many many many kudos
Posted 4 years ago # -
*Applause*
Posted 4 years ago # -
That's amazing, well done @Greenroofer.
I cycled from work in cold rain on Friday and did not enjoy any minute of it. Can't imagine how you managed however many hours of it!Posted 4 years ago # -
Indeed, amazing work, @Greenroofer!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Epic but shame about the saddle
Posted 4 years ago # -
Some further reflections on my weekend jaunt, and a question for the experts...
# Tesco banana-based fruit bars are very nice. There are three varieties, each with the same carb content as a gel, but seeming more wholesome. They are a complete pain to get out of the packet, though.
# Nairns do fruit and seed oatcakes in little packets of three. They make a change from ginger nuts (my usual staple), and don't leave the same aftertaste.
# A McDonalds cheeseburger (99p) goes very well in the back of your jersey, and is extremely nice a few hours later. (Thanks to @DaveC for that tip)
# Another McDonalds cheeseburger, combined with a large black coffee and a chocolate muffin is a good pick-me-up. A custom 'no-ice' full-fat Coke goes very well into a bidon too.
# You can't beat a Ginster's pasty for lunch.
# A Garmin Edge 520 struggles with a single route 600km long. It wouldn't restart navigation on Day 2 as it couldn't decide if it was home or not.
# A little bottle of chain lube is perfect for when 8 hours of rain have washed all the oil off your chain and the squeaking is getting you down.
# That annoying ticking sound from your helmet that caused you to stop three times to investigate it might in fact be a sticky sweet wrapper in your pocket....and a question for the experts: do you expect any discomfort after a 600km ride (or longer)? I'm thinking it's not unreasonable to have stiff legs, but my sit bones are slightly tender, one knee and the other Achilles tendon are a bit creaky and I've got a little ulnar nerve damage in one hand. Is that par for the course, or do you think that indicates bike fit problems? I think I've come off pretty lightly for spending 36 hours sitting in the same position, but I don't know if I should actually expect to have no joint/nerve issues at all.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Nice writeup greenroofer, and kudos on the ride itself.
Anyone riding Etal U Can on the 12th? I'm helping out in Gala all day, do say hi (I'm Ross and I'll be in an SBR jersey). Helpers' ride on Sunday so hoping ex hurricane Lorenzo doesn't make it's presence felt...
Posted 4 years ago # -
@edinburgh87 I hope to be there on the helpers' ride as I am away on 12th. I have to see whether my achilles niggles settle down first.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Greenroofer, It seems you weren't the only one outside all day in the rain on Friday (Although this wan't on a bike): https://thetab.com/uk/edinburgh/2019/09/29/edi-student-scales-the-height-of-everest-on-arthurs-seat-in-under-48-hours-59608
Posted 4 years ago # -
@edinburgh87 I signed up for Etal U Can on Saturday. If the weather is OK I will come and say hi.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Great bill, always good to make another CCE spot. I'm riding it now, as Lucy kindly released me from volunteering as she managed to rope in a few extra people
Posted 4 years ago # -
@edinburgh87 Cool! I will see you there as the forecast for Saturday looks nice (not so much for Sunday)
Posted 4 years ago # -
Saturday's Etal U Can 200km from Gala was good fun. Weather was nice and sunny, the wind nowhere near as bad as on Friday. Some steep hills, mud on roads, we got to see the sea, lots of lovely light. The Heinz tomato soup at the end was yum!
Sorry, I failed to meet @edinburgh87 I saw the SBR jerseys but there was lots of you...
Turned out I had exactly the same average speed for this 200km ride as for a 300km ride a month ago (also pretty much the same as my commuting speed). My new pal in whose proximity I rode both rides, commented that I seemed to keep constant speed all the way through. That meant that I was almost always behind him for the first 150km and after that I was ahead because apparently other people tend to slow down.
How does your, you experienced Audaxers, speed vary?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Well done. I signed up for the Etal U Can, bit then realised I already had a weekend long commitment.
Hoping to do the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul next month instead, but may settle for the shorter ride on the same day.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@bill, very steady, like an electric bike. Though a lecky bike battery would have conked out half way through.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I forgot to add that I had a Singin Hinny in Etal. That was a first one for me.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Hi Bill,
Glad you enjoyed your ride, was chatting to a lot of people but must have missed you. I think from your Strava pics you were maybe having soup at the finish around the same time as my small group, I know to say hi next time!
Ref speed, I tend to have a great first half and a steadier return leg. The café stop in Etal took ages this year though which got me back about 45min later than normal.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Storming the Pinnacle Bridge ramparts was fun, though a belated look on Google Maps suggests it could have be avoided with a short detour along the driveway of the farm...
Posted 4 years ago # -
A singin hinny - quite a broad definition
A singing hinny or singin' hinny is a type of bannock, griddle cake or scone, made in the north of England, especially Northumberland and the coal-mining areas of the North East. In Scotland, they are known as fatty cutties. Hinny is a term of endearment in the dialects of the Newcastle area.
Never heard of a Fatty Cutty
THo have heard of Rowies from Aberdeen which are 95 per cent lard 5% flour and 50% SALT
Also recently (despite visiting for more than 25 years) The Bedfordshire Clanger. A bridie more in the sausage roll shape (but sealed at both ends) where you start with the savoury e.g. mince bridie and keep eating until you get to the pudding - eg apple turnover.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Frenchy I signed up for the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul, see you there then? (if the weather is good)
(I probably rubbish at searching but I put "audax" in the search box and this thread does not come up. So the search does not include thread names? This thread is not in "EVENTS, RIDES ETC.", "LEISURE" or "SPORT" so not really easy to find. I ended up finding it by searching for 'etal' as I remembered typed it out last time here. Have no idea how chdot and gembo resurrect old topics
EDIT: Hah! it's in "INFRASTRUCTURE"
EDIT2: I should have had searched for: audax* as it's audaxes in the thread name. My bad.)
Posted 4 years ago # -
The secret, I've learned, is to go into 'advanced search' and sort by 'freshness'. It will then show threads which are old but have quite new posts higher up. Thanks to your post this one shows at the top for 'audax' in fact!
Posted 4 years ago # -
thanks jonty good tip
correct Bill, the search does not search for thread names so always put the thread name in the text pof your message?>
Audaxes+Sportives2019
Posted 4 years ago # -
Which reminds me, we need to move to Audaxes+Sportives2020 - the audax year starts in October and why not!
My RRTY attempt is now floundering due to continued calf/achilles issues (despite a whole week sat down in a meeting and not on a bike). I missed October and am doubtful for the Long Dark TotS. Not even commuting by bike atm :(
Posted 4 years ago # -
Shame @amir, not even on Mrs Amir’s lecky bike?
Posted 4 years ago #
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