CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

Audax 2012

(472 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by kaputnik
  • Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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12…16

  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Have been having a bit of tweeting with some here about Audaxes in 2012 so thought I'd open up a thread to discuss.

    The calendar is noticably lighter this year, I think probably due to PBP last year there was a very busy schedule so people could get enough qualification rides in.

    The current 2012 Scotland calendar is here and the following have caught my eye / tickled my fancy (mainly for being "local" for start and finish);

    * Sun 04 Mar 2012 200km 08:00 from Rosewell, S of Edinburgh Dave Harris Memorial
    * Sat 31 Mar 2012 200km 08:00 from Edinburgh, Corstorphine The Nippy Sweetie
    * Sat 21 Apr 2012 300km 06:00 from Musselburgh Merse and Moors

    Any takers?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Stepdoh
    Member

    I've got a real urge to try one of these out, d'ya think my current n=1 setup be manageable? Would do some long ride evening training in run up, but think I'm reasonably up to task.

    Any of those ones a good target for a starter?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Dave Harris is pretty hilly (2,900m / c. 6,000ft). Nippy Sweety perhaps? Don't know route of M&M (plus, probably best not to start on a 300).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. crowriver
    Member

    Nippy Sweetie looks interesting, though I am dahn Sahf that weekend alas. The other two: a bit challenging for a novice like me perhaps!

    Must find a gentler 100K to start off with this Spring...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    I quite fancy all of those, but the Nippy Sweetie is the most likely. The Dave Harris seems a bit early as does the Musselburgh one for a 300km.

    I also have an eye on the Rivers, Loch and Glens on 29 April and the Moffat Toffee Reinvented 13 May (but may be on hols).

    There are also some sportives that I have in mind (so far):

    Evans Ride-it from Callander on 1 April
    Drumlanrig 5 April (very civilized - untimed cake stop in middle)
    Bethany from Bonnyrig on 2 June
    Northern Rock Cyclone on 30 June (excellent if big event)
    Coast to Coast in a day 30 June (will take a bit of setting up but alternatively could do something similar ex-event)

    And I am up for more ad-hoc 100km rides, esp if there are interesting things to see (e.g. chimneys, bricks, cake ...)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "And I am up for more ad-hoc 100km rides, esp if there are interesting things to see (e.g. chimneys, bricks, cake ...)"

    Ditto

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Well there's the Tour de Moors to organise and various things to look at, places to stop and photographic activities to be undertaken on it. Month tbc, perhaps early March? 60 miles / 100k sounds about right for that.

    We could also do an alternate Round the Forth loop, returning on the fabulous old Stirling and Dunfermline railway route, rather than the 'orrible NCN76. Perhaps ride out to look at the remains of the old "other" Forth bridge that is the Alloa Swing bridge. Possible name could be "Used to be a Swinger"

    Early spring I also intended to head out to St Andrews taking a longer more scenic route involving East Neuk, rather than the over-the-ridge approach of the NCN. Returning by train from Leuchars. Probably 80-90 miles. Perhaps could be the "Little bit of Neuky"

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. crowriver
    Member

    @kaputnik, both those excursions into Fife sound very appealing.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "more scenic route involving East Neuk"

    Do have a route?

    Might take a while if you visit all the fishing villages...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Dave
    Member

    My money's on the Moffat Toffee for the finest local 200km. Etal-u-can is great too, but that's 9 months away...

    Both the Nippy Sweetie and Dave Harris have miserable finishes (the former coming back from Stirling along narrow busy roads, the latter along the A72 then up the A7). I hear that this year the Nippy is to go north of the Forth on the return though, which would dodge half of that.

    Nippy Sweetie on Garmin Connect
    Dave Harris on Garmin Connect
    (I can look out the Moffat Toffee at home if anyone's interested. It goes Gala - Innerleithen - St Mary's Loch - Moffat (via Talla) - St Mary's Loch (direct), Hawick, Melrose - Gala. Very nice).

    Physically the Nippy is the easier ride, although I actually got around the Dave Harris in less time, my average moving speed was 2mph faster on the Nippy.

    Haven't decided what I'm doing about Audax this year, other than riding some BPs with my lady wife. It would mean another bike, and I'm not sure we physically have room.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Surely the Pompetamine could do audax?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. crowriver
    Member

    Nippy Sweetie route for 2012, as posted to Audax UK.

    Pity I'm away, looks doable for someone of my less than Olympian physique...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. steveo
    Member

    Pretty sure i've got no chance of getting 200k fit by April though have hopes of getting at least one 100k in this year.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. crowriver
    Member

    Yes, I may be a tad optimistic too. I could manage a 100k with no real issues I reckon.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. riffian
    Member

    Disappointed that the Tour of East Lothian is absent from the calender this year. I'd planned to kick off my years riding with this beast.
    I'm minded to try out the Nippy Sweetie in March if I can get a few miles in my legs before then. Funny how the passge of time dulls the pain of dragging myself around the Erit Lass last year!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. kaputnik
    Moderator

    "more scenic route involving East Neuk"

    Do have a route?

    Might take a while if you visit all the fishing villages...

    I half thought of train to Ladybank or Markinch and start from there, as there was no obvious "nice" route between Inverkeithing heading east on B roads that I know of, the coast route is slow and unsuitable and the NCN route over Cleish via Kinross is nice but too much of a diversion.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. amir
    Member

    "Funny how the passge of time dulls the pain of dragging myself around the Erit Lass last year! "

    I am sure the weather will be perfect this time ;)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. Dave
    Member

    "Surely the Pompetamine could do audax?"

    I'm sure it could, in the sense of getting round within time etc. but I'm not convinced it would be such a pleasant day out...

    Will be trying the BPs on it anyway, since they're only short. Basically I can't work out whether I want to be into long distance still or something else, and hence whether I could justify a bike for it. Pretty set on PBP 2015 so rationally, that might be the decision made :)

    There will probably be an informal posse to ride the ToEL at some point early in the year?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. crowriver
    Member

    I half thought of train to Ladybank or Markinch and start from there, as there was no obvious "nice" route between Inverkeithing heading east on B roads that I know of

    Yes, mot the routes out of Inverkeithing are 'A' roads but the one via Dalgety Bay up through Aberdour etc. was not too busy last time I was there (a Saturday).

    Markinch probably more feasible as trains every half hour or so, I think it's mostly an hourly service at Ladybank these days. Also greasy spoon cafe in Markinch for pre-ride fuel if required.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Re: Tour of East Lothian date?
    « Reply #4 on: Today at 07:19:15 PM »
    Yup, sorry but the ToEL will not be running this year - certainly not as an official AUX event.
    My understanding is that the deadline for events to be submitted was earlier than anticipated and our entry was received too late. Sorry about this.
    I'll get the club's website updated asap also to show this.
     
    Andy Rowat MRCC Gen. Sec.

    "

    http://www.edinburghrc.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=13956.0

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I've not given my plans much thought as I've had a difficult holiday period. I spent my 50th birthday saying goodbye to my dad. His funeral was just after Christmas. But moving on, I think those early Audaxes are a bit too long for me that early in the season. I hope to be able to ride the Selkirk Sportive, the Cross Border Challenge and the Erit Lass.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Claggy Cog
    Member

    Some of you may be interested in joining this run instead of the East Lothian Audax. I you are please contact Peter Valente at the email address below. If you could let him know where you got the information from that would be helpful. I have asked his permission to post this so he does know....

    From: peter405662 <cleanor5-pipeline@yahoo.co.uk>
    Subject: [Edinburgh_CTC] Not the Tour of East Lothian

    It seems that the Tour of East Lothian (a 100k Audax starting and finishing at Musselburgh see http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2009/02/tour-of-east-lothian-audax/ ) is not to be run in 2012. Some enthusiasm has however been expressed by CTC members and I am thinking of leading a CTC run, on an ad-hoc basis rather than replacing one of the established dates/runs, to cover this route. Traditionally the event is run in February on a Sunday but March may be more suitable and I will avoid Saturday and Sunday dates already programmed as well as the Dave Harrris Memorial 200k. This means the Sunday 11th of March but we'll see how deep the snow is at the time!

    One of the best aspects of the tour was the control at Smiths the baker in Dunbar, but they are no more, however, there is now a community bakery in the town so I intend to see if they can assist. Other controls were at Haddington and the top of Redstone Rigg (no cafe there!).

    I realise that there are those who might not fancy the trip over the hills but suggest that we could have a shorter low level run to meet the main one at Dunbar thus making the numbers possibly a bit more viable for the bakery.

    Let me know if you might be interested (for those who have not already done so).

    Cheers

    Peter V

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. DaveC
    Member

    Well I'm entering the Nippy Sweetie. To prepare I'm doing a couple of 100's before. There is an adhoc 100 on the 15th Jan from the shopping centre in Dalkeith (tour of midlothian) Details on Audax SE Scotland thread of yacf forum & link below to map etc.. Also I'll be doing the Tour of East Lothian even though these two are un official Audax. I'd love some company I know on the Tour of Midlothian next Saturday so if anyone fancies a 100km with me pls do post here.

    http://ridewithgps.com/routes/843122 is the Tour of Midlothian.

    Plus I've been told they may run the Tour of East Lothian but just not as a brevited Audax.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. DaveC
    Member

    Oh and as an added extra I ride most Sundays with an informal Facebook group 'forth bay wheelers' from Dalgety Bay. we typically head north to Kinross then over to Dollar and rtn via Saline. We vary the routes and sometimes head for Falkland instead of Dollar before riding over West Lomond. Typical distance is ~80km so if you cycled out to meet us at the start then that would take you over the 100km mark. We meet at Dalgety Bay or Inverkeithing rai st so there is ample parking or trains out. Fife has some nice quiet routes with a few hills to spice things up. We're a social lot and never leave anyone behind.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. crowriver
    Member

    Would like to try a 100K but next Sunday is a bit soon for me, I don't think my fitness is up there yet. Enjoyed the Spokes ride today, which was quite leisurely though a few climbs to test the legs a bit. Plan to join the CTC ride on 22nd, again slightly shorter but I need the training. Might be up for a Fife run next month in preparation for the NOT the Tour of East Lothian, which I hope to take part in if it goes ahead (might give Redstone Rigg a miss though and do the slightly less challenging route suggested).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. DaveC
    Member

    Anyone else fancy accompanying me on the Tour de Midlothian?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. amir
    Member

    Maybe, not sure yet.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Thanks for the invitation Dave C. I'm off out for only my fourth ride since the end of November so I'll see how that goes first.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. ruggtomcat
    Member

    15th right? Only if the weather is miserable. :) Trouble with audax for me is its on the weekend, which is work days for the likes of me!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Of note - Tour of ML route looks very similar to what a Tour de Moors might look like (apart from homebound diversion via the Granites)

    Posted 12 years ago #

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