Monyash Audax

A while ago I suggested to Hannah that we did the Wednesday audax over Easter, we had enjoyed it last year when we rode with Sarah, Al, Ros and Julie. Hannah suggested we did the hilly one for a change this year. Although I hadnt done much riding since last summer I thought why not, anyway it would motivate me to do some riding. But before I knew it it was Easter and I hadn't done much riding.

After some bike fettling in the car park and a second breakfast at Costa we were on our way. The weather was stunning and I was glad I had put sun cream on. The route was brilliant but definetly hilly with some steep steep hills. Hannah has been riding more and so she was powering up the hills while I plodded along. By the end I was sore but happy after a great day in the saddle.

Just over 100k with over 2000m climbing was a brutal reintroduction to riding.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll gogerychwyrndrobwll llantysiliogogogoch 400

One day I would like to ride the PBP Audax but first I need to do a 600k, the first step was to ride a 400k. Having managed the 340k, by the time I rode to and from the Audax last month, although feeling very sore at the end I had entered this 400k starting from Poynton. 

I found it hard. I was feeling strong all the way to Colwyn Bay, after leaving Forte's Restaurant and realised I had a puncture, unfortunately I couldn't find the cause and I should have sent longer looking as new tube punctured as well. Found the culprit this time, it took a while, tiny bit of glass. New tube and on my way but by this point the weather was very very wet, one stop to top up air in the tyre, I was hoping it wasn't another puncture and as it turns out it stayed up for the rest of the ride so I was happy. My memories of the way to Holyhead were all of the grim weather, getting to memsec he tried to ply me with rice pudding but I was keen for proper food and returned to the pub I had passed with a number of bikes outside. Here I had the poshest meal I have ever had on the Audax and patched my tubes, thanks to another rider lending me a proper puncture repair kit, as silly me only had park patches which didn't stick in the damp.

Here I joined up with Louise for the night section and we were both so happy that the rain stopped as we left, I had treated myself to a new set of gloves! We soon were joined by Steve and the three of us had a very enjoyable ride through the night to Abergele, McDonalds being a very welcome sight. Leaving there was hard, all my layers on and feeling cold not that it took long to warm up. On this section I started to fall asleep on my bike, my eyes struggling to stay open and was a bit wandering on the road. Steve and Louise were lovely and stayed with me, I was eyeing up grass verges for a nap. I had perked up by Chester Services which seemed to have lots of tired cyclists sprawled all over it. Another feed and it felt good to have less than 60k to go. I was surprised one again to go through a sleepy phase and was glad when that passed.

We finished at 9:30am, my first 400k completed. I'm already thinking about a 600k need to work on the staying awake though.

Cambridge 300k Audax

I was a little worried coming up to this audax as I had a pretty bad cough. But fortunately it seemed better. Ali was off to Rome with her mum and sister so I was riding to and from the start. This was ten miles from Ali's mum. The weather forecast wasn't good but u rode to the start in reasonably nice weather but just before the start the rain came. Not far along the road I was stopping to put rain legs on. I got to the first control and was feeling strong. Not far after this I met up with  Noel and we worked out we were riding at the same pace. Onto the first cafe and I decided to get a slushy. It had also stopped raining so waterproofs to come off.

For the rest of the ride we were swapping places with two lads. There was  section which was pretty hilly, nothing long but some steep bits and was ready for food when we got to the Windmill cafe. After that we were on the fens into a headwind. I was struggling on this section and was glad of a tow. The last control and some sweets and I started to feel better if sore. Back at the finish and there was soup. I didn't hang around too long as I knew I had to ride back. The ride back wasn't as bad as I expected.

Total distance was 212miles, furthest I've rode in one go.

Shaftesbury Spring 200k Audax

I had cleverly managed to coincide a trip to Cambridge with an audax that started 25miles away. I had rode the 160k route a couple of years ago, riding to and from the start, but this time I was down for the 200k and Ali kindly gave me lifts to/from the start.

It was a lovely day and I set off in shorts, knee warmers, long socks, base layer, Jersey and showerproof. It almost felt like summer. Within four miles I was fixing a puncture, annoyingly I didn't find the cause, I also swapped out of winter gloves at this point. Having had to stop so early I was now at the back of the field. But I caught a couple up before long. Only then I had a rear wheel puncture, I've never punctured on an audax before, then two! This time I found the cause, my rim tape had developed a hole over one of the spoke holes. Some electrical tape to cover that and I was on my way.

The first cafe stop was at a garden centre and I had cake before heading out back to HQ. Unfortunately I was now riding straight into a headwind. Back at HQ I had beans on toast before heading back out into the headwind. In total it was 100k right into a headwind. I didn't see many people while riding. Swapped places once or twice with a few till about 30k to the finish when I met a guy who was struggling to navigate as his garmin was playing up and he didn't have a routesheet holder so was having to get it in and out of his pocket. Soon it was lights on after a lovely sunset. It was nice to have company in the dark and the miles flew back.

Back at HQ a day Ali was already there. Then back to her mum's for pizza. A lovely day, even with the headwind. I'm sore now though.

A Hopey New Year Audax

Yesterday's audax made me feel very slow and I was sore at the end. It started seven miles from home so I rode to the start. Usually it had a rolling start and I left at about 9:15am. It felt like I was being constantly being overtaken and only for the last few miles did I ride with anyone. Still good miles in the legs and I rode 82miles with 2000m of climbing.

Hannah's First Audax

I invited Hannah to join me on a 100k Audax today, she said yes and then pointed out how hilly it was....to be fair very! I rode over from home and was early enough to get a Costa Hot Chocolate and Pastry and Hannah arrived not long after me.

The usual low-key start and we all stayed together for a while before Hannah's chain came off, and again....she should have taken it in to Garage Bikes!

The route basically went up or down! We had a lovely 16% to get up near Macclesfield Forest.

I think Hannah was glad to get to the lunch stuff and we had half an hour in hand which is always nice! I made sure I ate loads.

Then more hills, meaning more amazing views.

We even met this cute little fellow.

Finished with an hour in hand and were fed a sandwich. The regulars then started trying to persuade Hannah to do some more, 300k was mentioned!

Arrivee

So the crazy 200k Audax I rode in March made the back cover of Arrivee, fame at last. Well in Audax UK circles.

Plains 300k Audax

I rode this event in 2010 and remember really enjoying it, yesterday while I was trying to stay awake till the start at 11pm I was wondering what had possessedme to enter it again. I was riding my lovely Kermit with road tyreson.

It wasn't long before we were on our way and soon I was riding with a small group for the first section, we weren't going as fast as last time but I felt strong.

First stop was at Whitchurch and I chose to go to McDonalds as we could go inside, get a hot drink and use the toilets. After this I was mainly riding with one other, although a lot of the time we were about 50m apart, it was nice to see another set of lights though. As we approached Newtown the sun started to rise, unfortunately behind us but I did stop and take a picture.

At Newtown I once again chose McDonalds instead of getting cold on a garage forecourt. From here it was back to Dinky's and on to the Garden Centre at Radway for Cake. I was riding alone but seeing familiar faces when I stopped.

My navigation strategy seemed to work well, I left Buttons in charge!

Unfortunately once home my Garmin won't upload, there appears to be a problem with the USB port, guess tomorrow I'll have to contact Garmin!

Still 313k covered, 15hrs 5mins total time, not sure how much moving time but I know I probably had about two hours stopped in cafe's etc!

Thanks so much to Garage Bikes for helping me build such a fantastic bike!

A snowy, hilly Delightful Dales 200k Audax

I was nervous about entering this event as I knew the reputation of it for being very hilly and I am not a natural hill climber at all. But always one for a challenge and knowing the only way I will get better at hills is to ride them I entered and asked Ali if she could give me a lift up (I didn't fancy riding there are back to such a hilly event).

Getting to the start and it was snowing, worried I didn't have enough layers, after putting all mine on, I borrowed Ali's waterproof and put it in my bag as a spare layer. Setting off I was beginning to wonder what I was doing as the snow kept falling but we were making good time. After Gargrave I was on roads I didn't know and it had stopped snowing so I could enjoy the views. Getting to the first huge hill of the day, Park Rash, it was down to my lowest gear and trying not to topple over sideways. As we (me and Rich and Shona from Keep Pedalling) got to the top we were faced with a road blanketed in snow. We were soon off the bikes and pushing, road bikes and snow not being very well suited. After walking over the top and partway down we were soon back on the bikes and the sun even came out.

A quick stop at the first control before a cake stop at Dales Bike Centre, where it was warm enough to sit outside, had us smiling. The next section was undulating, still lots of steep hills though, and it was lovely to walk into the next pub to have the landlady offering us a choice of sandwiches.

Then it was time for the Coal Road, we all had a 'rest'  at the very steep bit at the bottom and we were soon surrounded by snow. Fortunately this time there were tracks to follow through it.

Coming down was an interesting experience, once the snow cleared it was a twisty steep descent which involved holding onto the brakes the whole way down, this was the first time my hands got cold! I'd like to say from here it was all downhill but not lots more climbing to get to Three Peaks Country where we had a nice long downhill.

Undulating from there to Clitheroe and I was on roads that I knew, we finished at 7:15pm so 11hrs45mins after we started, a long and epic day!

Newport 200

Ali gave me a lift over so it wasn't too early a start. Once there I bumped into Shona and Rick from Keep Pedalling before grabbing some toast. I set up just behind the group as I was messing around with my bag but it didn't take long to catch them up. After a while I was riding with just Rich and Shona and we spent the day together. On the way out we had snow on occasions but fortunately it didn't stick. Getting to Newport we went to Costa to avoid the queues in the cafe, a great call. I was pleased to find that although it was windy on the way back it wasn't the strong headwind that had been promised. About 10k from the end I managed to throw my chain, somehow it twisted and I couldn't work out how to get it back on. I was feeling like a bit of a numpty and had to get Rich to help, fortunately it did take him more than two seconds so I didn't feel quite as bad!

Got back to lovely soup and Ali waiting to take me home thanks to Endomondo.

A slushy, flooded Mere 200

So where to start, this was my birthday Audax so I got my entry in nice and early. Ali was away so I knew I would be riding to the start, only in the morning I struggled to get up and nearly left it too late! Anyway it has to be said on Saturday I could not imagine the event happening, there was so much snow. But the weather forcasters were correct and it did rain and melt away. So after a quick ride across Manchester I set out from Cheadle, just after the main pack due to a bit of faffing!

I passed a few people, said hi to a few, but was soon riding on my own, which is how I spent most of the day. There was a noticeable headwind already and I had put cross tyres on so I knew it wasn't going to be an easy day. At the first control in Delamere I stopped at the cafe, turns out most people didn't. I was hungry though and very glad I had on the next slog to Ellesmere. It was basically a long straight road into a headwind with no shelter at all! At the control here I chatted to a few lads before pushing on, I wanted to make the next cafe before it closed. At first it felt easy, I guess I had a tailwind but soon I found the floods. At first they weren't that deep, but it wasn't long before they were hub deep. After one I had to stop and take all the stuff from the flood out of my rear mech. Fortunately I made it to the Raven Cafe in time and ordered both a Bacon Roll and chips, I was hungry!

Leaving here it was lights on, although it was still pretty light, I came across a road closed sign due to a flood but feeling confident from before ploughed in, it wasn't long before I was up to my headset and then stuck! I waded back out and found my way round, I found out later I was nearly through it I just couldn't see round the corner.

As it got dark I was very glad of my exposure lights so I could see the potholes in the lanes and that I had charged my Garmin a bit at the last control. I love night riding though and it wasn't long before I was back on the outskirts of Wimslow and then at the hall in Cheadle. The usual lovely finish where we were fed soup and sandwiches as I looked up train times, only to find it was a replacement bus service and I would be riding home.

166miles recorded on the Garmin, which died two miles from home, very sore legs and a big smile!

The Winter Solstice

I had entered this Audax last year but had woken up to snow and an email from the Organiser suggesting that it would be better not to ride. As Ali didn't think driving over was a good idea I went back to bed. Obviously I had to enter again this year even though it would make the weekend very very busy.

After ice earlier in the week it had warmed up and looked like it was going to be a nice, if wet day for the ride. Ali gave me a lift to the start and Mike was letting us start whenever so at about 8:55am I headed out. After riding on my own for a while I joined two lads who were chatting. Turns out one of them was one of the guys I had led back to the headquarters in the North-West Passage after coming across them lost in Rochdale. We were making good time when we were flagged down to be warned of ice. Making the decision that this must just be a freak road we headed round on the dual-carriageway and re-joined the route. Fortunately this was it for ice. It was here another guy joined us, unfortunately his friend had come off on the ice and smashed his helmet so was abandoning. We were making good time as a group and arrived at Old Ma's to not too long a queue, this was good as service wasn't exactly rushed. The wait was worth it though as the beans on toast was lovely.

Leaving here we were making good time and although I went backwards on the hills by this point I had been adopted as a human sat nav so the two stronger ones waited for me. We arrived in Market Drayton for the second cafe stop at the Morrisons and they laughed at me for being organised enough to have a lock! The fourth member of our little gang turned up just after us and we left together. having made good time meant that we rode the roughest road in the light which I think we were all glad about! The last stop was Mike and his wife and their horse box which had some very welcome mince pies.

Unfortunately about a mile from here we had our only real incident. A huge sunken drain got one of the riders in our group, he went down behind me and flew over the bars. Fortunately the car behind was able to stop. We got him out of the road and assessed the damage, lots of blood due to a split lip and a cut on his nose. We got him patched up, Chris went and got plasters, and then sorted out his bike. Amazingly the only problem with that was a punctured front tyre. We headed on our way again once he was feeling better. I made sure to report the hole this morning.

We rolled into the finish just after 7pm and Ali was waiting for me. It was perfect timing as 5minutes later it started to rain! I had a brilliant ride, thanks to the lads for letting me wheelsuck so much you were stronger than me! Now time to get entering some more Audax rides.

125.6miles
Moving Average 15.5mph
1600m of climbing
Total Time 10:10:55

Chirk 200

I entered this as my last long ride before 24solo, that was before I rode 200k on Monday and played in the Howgills on Saturday. The clocks going forward did not help at all, I think I spent most of the night awake worried that I would oversleep. Ali had said she would get up and drop me at Poynton but as I was awake I left her asleep and drove over. There were a lot of people still around in Manchester from the night before. Arriving at the car park that marks the start there seemed lots of people there, after my mistakes on the North West Passage I ate a couple of hot cross buns that I had taken for second breakfast. Just before 8am I took my waterproof off and we headed off.

The start was a little chaotic with me going straight-on, as per the route sheet and someone nearly turning into me turning right, lots of riders thought that was the route. No damage done and my warm legs meant I was near the front for the first bit. Until changing down to the small chainring ended up with my chain between two chain rings. Not had that happen before. Had to get my hands a little mucky sorting that out. Next thing that happened was my Garmin turning itself off, was beginning to think it wasn't going to be my day. I text Ali at the first cafe so she could google how to reset the Garmin and then had a Bacon Roll before heading off.

I rode the section to Chirk mainly on my own but within sight of a couple of lads. For a while I rode along with a guy who also works as a cycling instructor. At Chirk they had ran out of beans so I went for a toasted teacake. I also got my Garmin to turn back on! Here I took my knee-warmers off meaning I was wearing just shorts and a jersey, looks like summer is in March this year. Heading out of Chirk I was ready for the hill that I had been warned about. Turns out it wasn't too bad at all, obviously the hills of the last couple of weeks have had an effect, and I was soon back in the Cheshire Plains. On the way to the last cafe stop we passed lots of Cheshire Cat riders going the opposite way. This was my first 100mile ride four years ago.

At the Ice Cream Farm the queue for ice-cream was massive, not a surprise with how many cars were parked there, so I went for a cream tea. I was sat with the Saddleworth Clarion boys who bought a huge tub of Sherry Trifle Ice-cream between them to avoid the queues. From here it was quite a direct route back, with 10k to go I hooked up with a couple of lads from VC167 and we took turns on the front getting to Poynton for 6pm.

Just as I finished Ali arrived to collect me, saving me a boring ride back through Manchester and meaning we got home in time to go out for dinner.

A lovely day 153miles in total with 1870m of climbing

North West Passage Audax

Back in February 2009 I rode my first Audax, the mini North West Passage which starts in Rochdale. After completing it I said I would be back to ride the full event, a 200k Audax. Since then there has always be a reason not to do it but I was free on the date this year, I then forgot to enter but fortunately you can enter on the day. I was organised enough to print out an entry form but that is where the organisation stopped. I was late leaving in the morning due to having to sort out mudguards on Ruby (I was going to use the cross bike and then realised how much movement there was in the bottom bracket) and I only had a handful of cereal bars with me.

The ride to the start was nice and I foolishly though the weatherman had got the forecast wrong. I had time to sign up, put waterproofs on (since it started raining) and adjust my light and then we were off. Sticking with a group to Todmorden my average speed was pleasing but soon the hills got bigger and I got slower and colder. The rain by this point was really coming down (not what I would call drizzle BBC weather), visibility was poor and it actually hurt when it hit your face. I realised I hadn't eaten enough earlier and stopped put my showerproof on over my waterproof and ate a couple of cereal bars.

The first control was in settle and it felt like it was a long way! Getting there I quickly ordered a bacon roll and two cakes, just to make sure, as well as a hot chocolate. Leaving Settle and the sun was out and I was feeling better, the earlier thoughts of heading home were gone and I could feel my feet again. Turns out I was a little too optimistic and the rain started again. It also seemed to be nice and hilly. Still it was only 20miles to the next control.

I got there and the sun was out, a nice little mobile van cafe provided me with another hot chocolate and I set off just in front of two lads I had arrived just after. They caught me within a couple of miles and I grabbed the wheel, it was very windy and riding into the wind on my own was taking a lot of effort. One of them was very strong and I took the front once or twice but after a quick recovery he was back on the front pulling us along. Through Lancaster and I was glad of my Garmin to lead me through, apart from traffic lights we made good progress not having to read a route sheet. Then onto the cafe at Scorton. Here it was chocolate cake time!

My Gloves had dried out by now and I even took my waterproofs off. A nice section of flat along the A6 was quite enjoyable and I hooked up with another Audaxer who wasn't sure where he was going and was using me as a personal sat-nav. Turning off the A6 and towards Blackburn the temperature started dropping and the next thing we know the hail comes. Waterproofs straight back on we gathered a small group of Audaxes sheltering  by a barn waiting for it to be possible to see again. Onwards and upwards, or so it felt, my front shifter decided to die while stuck in the big ring. I decided I would prefer to be stuck in the little ring so undid the cable, the right decision with some hills still to come.

After Blackburn it started to get dark but I knew the roads well and was actually enjoying some of the climbing, still rubbish at it but not a suprise as most of my riding is flat at the moment. I clattered through a pothole on the down to Rochdale but fortunately got away with it. In Rocahdale I picked up another couple of lost Audaxes who had managed to get to there via Bacup. They even bought me a pint to say thanks for guiding them the last couple of miles. Back to the pub at the start to be fed pie and chips before riding home. It seemed to take ages getting home, and looking at my average speed for that part of the journey it did, as the wind was even stronger and a head wind.

Total Stats for the day:

156.75miles
2830m climbing
Average Speed 13.6mph

Burfod (beep) Bumble

I finshed off my time off-work with a 200k Audax from Bedford. I had been expecting Ali to drive me home but then she ended up going to Thailand so I was going to have to drive the car home. Since I was driving I couldn't just sleep on the way home.
The night before I found out I had to be in work early on the monday to drive the van over to Liverpool (great more driving). As is usually the case I also didn't sleep well. Up early to drive to Bedfore it was obvious it had warmed up as I didn't need to scrap any ice off it. Once there I bumped into a couple we had met in a cafe at Newcastleton last July when on holiday up that way. There also seemed to be a lot of people in PBP gillets.
About 30 of us set off and I made sure I kept to my own pace and didn't just hold on to the fast boys. I'd pretty much come to the realisation that I would be riding the whole 200k on my own when a voice pipes up asking if he could stick with me. One of the guys who had been just behind me had packed due to illness so his friend had caught up with me. For the rest of the ride Julian had the dubious pleasure of my company.
We made good time to the first control where I grabbed a sandwich and a drink before we headed on. At this point the real fast lads were leaving just as we arrived. Onto the furthest point, a little chef, where on seeing how small our portions of beans on toast were we ordered desert before starting to eat. Not sure they were sure not to make of us.
The route was and out and back and mainly on A roads. This was very sensible at this time of the year and we had no ice. But I've never been beeped at so many times on an Audax. The crazy thing being is the roads were easily wide enough to overtake us and we were mainly riding single file. Obviously lots of people just wanted to say hello, some even shouted at us but it was hard to hear what they were saying.
Returning involved another stop at the petrol station and I enjoyed a hot chocolate. Then lights on and head back to Bedford. The ride finished at the organisers house where she fed us soup, only an Audax! 10.5hours on the road my moving average was just over 14mph (so much faster than the thurs and fri before). I also probably spent less than 10k of the ride on a wheel, I was mainly at the front of our duo so I was very pleased with the speed.
Then I had to drive nearly 200miles home. That was dull!

A lot of miles - The Eureka! 200k

I just got my entry in for this Audax before it closed and I was really looking forward to a long day out on the bike. Obviously racing CX yesterday wasn't ideal preparation and I was unsure how I'd get on with such a long ride. I haven't done any long rides recently, although long commutes have been fine, if not particularly fast. To make things a little longer I planed to ride to and from the start, nearly 20miles each way.

I didn't sleep amazingly after 1am, constantly waking up so in the end I got up before my alarm. Breakfast and I was out the door. It didn't take me long to feel hot and the showerproof came off. Riding through Manchester at 7am was interesting with plenty of people making there way home after a night out. Getting to the hall in Cheadle I bumped into Rich and Shona from keep pedalling. I grabbed a couple of biscuits, got ride of another layer, I was now in 3/4 bibs and a long sleeve jersey, and it was time to head off.

The first section was the usual sprint and I concentrated on just holding my line and staying on the wheel in front. Eventually a hill split us up a bit and a front group got away, I settled in the second group which was being led by four lads from sheffrec cc. Taping along at what I thought was a good pace Rich and Shona sped past. But we saw them again at the first info control. From here the Sheffrec guys raised the pace and I worked to stay with them, they suggested some people came to the front but I was the only one to take them up on the offer. As we neared the cafe the pace went up again and we got there with barely any queue.
It was my first visit to the Eureka cafe and I wasn't disappointed. Beans on toast, a hot chocolate and a 7up before I headed out on the road. I was riding with a guy called Paul for a while but when the Sheffrec lot passed I grabbed on. We worked pretty well together and made good time to the next cafe, the Ice Cream Farm. My legs were a little sore by this point and I didn't have ice cream, instead a chicken peri peri baguette. We'd been seeing a lot of Rich and Shona and they arrived at the cafe only minutes afterwards.
Leaving the cafe I managed a good turn on the front. But any slight hill and I went backwards (something to work on) I wasn't the only one finding the hills hard although H was on a fixie (I hadn't been brave enough to bring mine). There was one last stop at a petrol station where I inhaled more food, before the last 30km back to cheadle. The pace was high now and it was all I could do to hold on. My garmin was so useful now it was dark!

Back to the startal and soup was served, Rich and Shona once again just behind us. All that was left was to ride home. The three of us rode into Manchester and I kept waiting to completely die but I made it home 20mins before i'd told Ali I would be home.

In total I cover 172miles with 1888m of climbing. I'm a little tired now!

Back pedalling

Making sure I don't get lost

I was back at work this week, a three day week so I commuted in three times and got the train home three times. That was me being sensible!

Today I took the chance to ride a 150k Audax, it started in Bredbury and I planned to get the train there and back so I set my alarm for 6am as the train was at 7:12 so I wanted to leave at about 6:50. Just after 6:30 I woke up to the radio, my alarm hadn't gone off! So it was jump out of bed, eat breakfast while Ali was a star and got my bike ready. I just made the train so got to the start in time.

We were on our way at 8:30 and I ended up on the front for a while as noone else seemed to want to be there. But then a fast group of about 8 went past me, I hung on for a while and then realised that I needed to be sensible and sat up. I stopped in Wilmslow to get some cash, I was swapping places with a guy who was on the 200k and for a while was near a couple of other guys on my ride but mainly I was riding on my own. I got to the cafe to be told I was first on the 150k, turns out the fast group went the wrong way somewhere round Wilmslow. I had beans and toast and then a huge slice of chocolate cake. I couldn't resist all the cakes looked great! I spent an hour at the cafe, taking it nice and easy.

Yummy Cake

On the bike again and into a headwind. I was riding on my own but bumped into some of the others at the other control. Back to the finish just before 4pm. Then it was back to the station for the train home, the headwind meant that I really didn't want to ride home so being sensible was easy!

My legs felt okay, but it felt hard anytime it went uphill and the wind made the second half hard. Next weekend is going to be really tough!

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Todmorden Loops Audax

Saturday evening was spent rushing around finding pedals, packing a saddle bag and attaching the laminated route sheets to ruby. While feeling a little panicked about hilly the route was and how few real hills I've rode recently. Still too late to do anything about it so I got myself to bed and tried to sleep.

Sunday morning and everything was going to plan till I asked my Garmin to follow the route. It started buzzing and froze on the screen saying Garmin (this has happened a few times now). So back in the house, computer on, load course onto old Garmin, sorted? Nope it didn't download, 2nd time lucky and it worked. Follow course nad no there must be a course error. Ahh well better go as i'm now going to be late...

I had to stop on my over to adjust my saddle height but made it 5minutes before the start, which I missed by going to the toilet! I was riding with Ali from MillsCC and she had kindly waited for me. We actually had a group of five of us and I was glad of my warm legs as we set up the first hill, I think a rope might have been more appropriate than a bike it was so steep! Lynne who was riding with us got to that stage on the steepest corner that its too late to unclip but you can't keep riding, only one place to go - the floor! The first loop was dispached just as it was getting a little warmer to be greeted by a spread of cakes. It was hard not to eat too much.

Out onto the second loop and along the valley road to Hebden Bridge (my least favourite bit of the ride) and onto another cliff to climb up. Before heading round to Cragg Vale which I think may have been the easiest climb of the day! Then it was time for more cake. Here two of our little bunch decided to abandon and we were down to three.

Off again and up more hills. With 13miles to go Lynne's chain came off, back on and up the hill. At the top I began to wonder where the other two were, especially as Lynne was faster up the hills than me, so I headed back down. Only to find Lynne's chain kept coming off. I adjusted the stops so it shouldn't come off. Then Ali noticed a broken link, only one side was attached. A look around and I realised that I didn't have a handy mechanic with me and it was up to me. It took a while but I got the dodgy link out and rejoined the chain. I noticed a couple of other cracks in some links but it seemed to be working fine. Another four miles and it seemed fine. I stopped to take my jacket off and rounded the corner to find a battered looking Lynne and Ali wheeling a bike with a broken chain, yes it snapped again. One of the dodgy links! At that point Emma came down the hill having finished and backtracked after finishing. I fixed the chain, a little quicker this time and Emma sorted out a lift for Lynne. Then me and Ali headed off to finish. There I ate a load of sandwiches and some soup before heading home. No idea why but I decided to go via Bacup to get an extra hill in.

An excellent ride, fantastic company and amazing cakes.

180km and 3670m of climbing.

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The Springtime 150km

We're down in Cambridge this weekend so I entered an audax on the saturday. Being sensible I entered the 150km (actually 155km) instead of the 200km. Once I plotted the route, including there and back it came to just over 240km. Since Ruby is at Specialized getting accessed as she may have a crack in her frame (update: the frame is fine just the dropout is corroded slightly but its safe to ride) so I was riding kiwi, it was to be my longest ride fixed. When I plotted the route it looked a little hillier than I would have liked but nothing looked steeper than roads I have ridden commuting before. So friday once I got home from work was getting kiwi ready and laminating the route card before meeting Ali to drive down.

Saturday morning and I was up at 6am creeping round trying not to wake up Ali and her mum before heading out at 6.30. It was already getting light outside. I enjoyed the ride out but had to stop a couple of times, once to adjust layers and once at McDonalds as I really needed the toilet.

Got to the start at 8:30 so had half an hour to enjoy sitting in front of the fire. Just after 9am we were on our way and somehow I was at the front but soon some club boys in purple came past. I stuck with them for the first 10km but realised that I was working too hard on the uphills and scaring myself on the downhills as I pedalled down and they freewheeled.

From then on I was riding on my own. At Baldock I missed the cafe on my first ride through, turns out it was closed, I soon found a sandwich bar with lots of bikes outside. I got myself a hot chocolate and bacon roll. I headed out again, past an information control at the bottom of the one climb mentioned on the routecard my rear brake stopped working, I stopped to adjust it but the cable kept pulling through, I thought I must have snapped it. Then I noticed the cablestop out on the toptube. Sorted I continued onto HQ. Here I had beans on toast and a blueberry muffin.

Out again on the last loop, about 55km, and I started missing turns, no excuse when I had my garmin on my bars. Partway round and it started getting misty but not quite raining, eventually it started raining so I put my waterproof on. Back to HQ and there was a handful of 200k riders there who had just finish. I had an Eccles cake this time.

It was dark when I left to head back to Cambridge so all my lights were on. Onto country lanes and I realised that I should have put one of my bigger lights on and not just rely on my spark. It was plenty bright enough but the batteries did not last long enough to use it on bright. Felt a little silly as I have such good lights at home.

I got back to Ali's mums just after 7:30pm and they were cooking dinner, veggie lasgne yum yum!

150miles, 1880metres of climbing

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23/30 - A mere (muddy) one hundred

 

This year I plan to ride a few Audax events. I loved the Poynton Plains 300 last year and would like to build up to a 600km event. So since Ali was away this weekend I entered my first Audax of the year, orginally I was thinking of the 200km event but since I was going to have to ride there and back I went for the 155km option.

I was out the door at about 6:45am ( a little later than planned) and with my old Garmin as my new one decided to die when I loaded up the course. There must have been an issue with the course as by Radcliffe it had disappeared and was telling me I was off-course. I had a good idea of how to get to the start though and my cue sheets on my bike for the actual Audax ride. On my way through Didsbury I met another cyclists heading to the same place and he knew exactly where the village hall we were starting at was in Cheadle so I followed him. I arrived at 8:15am which gave me time to eat some of the biscuits before the off. Rich arrived just before the start with his friends Lisa and Gus and we set off just behind the group, catching them up a few minutes down the road. We rode as a group for a while, although it got a little split on the first hill. I stayed with the front group till about five miles from the first checkpoint where me and two others got a little distanced. It was at this point I realised that we weren't still a big group together. Just as I was thinking of setting off again Rich, Lisa and Gus rolled in and persuaded me to go to the cafe. I wasn't sure as my legs were sore (they were sore when I left the house after 190miles already in the week) but I really didn't take much persuading. I had a huge pile of chips while Rich choose the huge cooked breakfast!

Leaving here we stuck together as a group of four, some confusion about an information point but otherwise navigation was good. We carried on to Audlem for another cafe stop. Here I had Chocolate Cake. My garmin was also telling me that the battery was low so I was hoping it would last till Cheadle, I am too much of a geek to cope with it dying and not recording the ride, from Cheadle to Home I could cope with (just). In this section we had gone along some really muddy lanes, Gus and Rich on cross tyres were flying while I was mincing my way down as my mudguards got clogged and I tried to avoid the huge potholes in the road.

After leaving Audlem I went through a bad patch, my head hurt and I was beginning to think I had been a bit too ambitious. In fact all I wanted to do was lie down and have a nap. This lasted for about 20miles, but 100miles into my ride and an energy gel later I started to feel better. Not sure if it was not enough food or liquid or something like that. Two more information points and then we were on our way back, at about 5km to go I felt really good and powered back to the finish. Here we were fed tomato soup with bread rolls and lots and lots of biscuits. I made sure I filled up before leaving.

Lights on as it was now dark and I retraced my route from the morning. Not so pleasant now with all the traffic! My garmin lasted till I got onto Deansgate, which I know is 20km from my house. So I checked the time and head down pushed all the way home, 50minutes later I was at my front door and feeling good, although very tired. I arrived home exactly 12hours after I left! The two cafe stops and time at the start and finish of the ride added up to 2hours so it was 10hours on a bike. Pleased with that for this time of the year.

So time to plan my next audax ride.