CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

London - Edinburgh - London

(18 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by ARobComp
  • Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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  1. ARobComp
    Member

    GULP

    Well I'm paid up and in. This is officially my first audax (although I've ridden dozens of 100 milers and a few 200kms) and at 1400km in < 5 days it looks to be a toughy.

    As far as I can make out. It's about comfort, pace and fueling.
    There are 13 controls to pass through that have food, sleeping facilities, mechanics etc. The turn-about one in Edinburgh is Gracemount High School apart from that as far as I can tell they're about 110km apart which is fairly nice. Means you can split it up fairly sensibly over the days. (I am aiming at 4 days)

    I have 6 months to set up my bike (starting with a new saddle next week) and am planning on using my spec cyclocross comp as it's got some suspension which will smooth out the ride, I'm used to the frame and I can mod it easily.

    I need some advice though specifically on what to carry and what nav and lights to carry. Anyone got any 2 cents?

    Nav - should I get a garmin gps mountable (I DO want one....)

    Lights - What are the best entry level I can get (front and back)- bearing in mind I'll have around 3 hours every now and again to charge if that's what they need.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. recombodna
    Member

    Permission to break forum rules and say... me you're a brave man!!!! Best of luck and all that. ......(Salute's with a tear in my eye)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Smudge
    Member

    dynohub and B&M front light (just ordered a B&M Lumotec IQ Cyo 60 from Rosebikes, £56.43 as opposed to the best part of a hundred from a UK supplier!). No faffing with (and carrying) batteries, and a useable light for seeing the road (according to those with more experience of them than me)

    Have a look at Dave McC's site for more info.

    Oh and I may as well be the first to say it, Brooks ;-)
    (or whatever is comfy for you for 15 or 20 hours at a go :-o )

    Hat's off to you, and good luck!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Dave
    Member

    Good man! I'll see you in the Edinburgh control...

    As the route is so long the minimum speed goes down to give what should be a quite managable goal (including enough sleep!) so long as you keep turning the pedals over.

    If you don't fancy a dynamo hub, you can run the IQ Cyo from 5xAA batteries - that's what I did on PBP.

    It wasn't as reassuring as I thought because the 6000 riders in front of me bought all the AA batteries on the route (!!). The Cyo itself isn't as bright as from a dynamo, but evidently sufficient. If you're interested in this option I can bend your ear at great length.

    Having bag drops on LEL instead of riding unsupported could relieve a lot of the strain if you go for that option.

    Personally, having a GPS to reassure in the small hours when the route gets improbable can be great. Many get by fine without, but at one point near Brest with 45 hours without sleep and riders going both ways, only having a concrete satellite fix kept me sane (and going west).

    Most importantly, you are going to want to ride a lot of miles (even though it's not necessary to qualify). There are a couple of weekends with back-to-back brevets.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Darkerside
    Member

    Aha, someone else...

    The chap I cycled round Scotland with two years back (also known as John) will be joining me on a tandem for LEL. LB has, with staggering kindness, offered to hire out a Circe Morpheus to give us something to attempt it on.

    We're relying on that slow average speed and the fact that there will be two sleep-deprived heads navigating rather than just the one.

    It's a rather nice jersey, at least.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. steveo
    Member

    It wasn't as reassuring as I thought because the 6000 riders in front of me bought all the AA batteries on the route (!!).

    I have nothing useful to add, but that line made me actually lol... Sorry :)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I'm still not brave / mad enough to enter. Am planning a significantly long tour this summer, but will take a leisurely 3 weeks to go about it I think.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. Smudge
    Member

    Dunno if it's a help or not... but I enjoyed reading about it in this book:-)
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barring-Mechanicals-Edinburgh-recumbent-bicycle/dp/1445255103

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    @ARobComp and Darkerside, good luck!

    I see that the LEL organisers recommend completing an SR series* as training for LEL. You also need third party insurance, which if you take out an AUK or CTC membership, is included.

    * Ride a series of 200, 300, 400 & 600km all in one season.
    http://www.aukweb.net/handbook/awards.htm

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. ARobComp
    Member

    Thanks for all the advice!

    I shall start researching training rides.

    I was thinking of doing at least a 200,300,400 and 600 before the end of july (possibly doing the same again in training).

    I used a brooks for all my previous touring and agree wholeheartedly. I actually had a new B17 still in packaging in black but I've lost/misplaced it in a move somewhere! Very Frustrating.

    Lights wise I shall go with Daves recommendation. From the point of view of carrying stuff I take it a saddle bag is the best bet? I have 3 bottle cages on my bike already so water is ok.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. Darkerside
    Member

    What start time did you go for?

    Saddle bag or rack top bag seem popular options, depending on whether you have a rack on already

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. Kenny
    Member

    * Ride a series of 200, 300, 400 & 600km all in one season.
    http://www.aukweb.net/handbook/awards.htm

    As I read through that page, I think I started to have a hypo just thinking about doing them. Still, you have to have aims in life!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. Darkerside
    Member

    You haven't visualised the amount of cake I intend to consume. I might need the trailer just to carry it all...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. ARobComp
    Member

    Went for the earliest start time. I'm keen to be up and out of that London ASAP

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Lights - What are the best entry level I can get (front and back)- bearing in mind I'll have around 3 hours every now and again to charge if that's what they need.

    I can always lend you dynamo light (IQ Cyo) and the hub/wheel off my bike if you wanted. I think it would provide a lot of confidence and reassurance to have a light which would always be on, backed up by a battery powered light that can be charged at your stopovers.

    It takes about 20 minutes to add/remove it, and I'm sure I can live without it for 5 days in summer time.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. ARobComp
    Member

    @kaputnik Thats a very generous offer thanks so much. What size wheel? 700c?

    I think I might buy some lights for training with as need to get used to riding at night, however depending on how confident I feel nearer the time I may well take you up on that offer!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. kaputnik
    Moderator

    @ARC it's a 700c Mavic Open Pro, 32 spoke, build by the Bicycle Works - light and tough. Offer's open if/when needed.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I've just been reading the report on the Mille Alba in Arrivée. The places mentioned, in the same day's cycling seeem so far apart - Inverkeithing, Banchory, Newcastleton etc. - and you are going 400km further. I hope it goes well. I would consider the recommended training schedule a major achievement.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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