I don't think my fitness will be up to coping with the 200km route at the beginning of March so I'm considering doing the 150km one. Anyone fancy joining me?
Vicky
ps I have signed up to do the 210km Stevenage Summertime Special on 25th March
I'm down for the 200km. Looking forward to it, although I've noticed that the final 200km road control is in Baldock which will make the leg back to Henham a bit of a trial...
Shaun
p.s. Anybody else comtemplating doing this, get your entry in soon...
I'll take the lift, Robbie, if nobody else needs it. Alternatively, I can take somebody over in my car, if there's anybody else who's entered (or thinking of entering) and needs a lift to Henham...
Now that was an experience! There's something very real about Audax rides... they're there for riders who just love riding. Fascinating Shafsbury CC club house which I think they call it an 'ut'. History on the wall dating back well over a century. These 'uts' are for cyclists to kip, or use as a base. Brilliant idea.
The first stop... After 35m mostly of single track roads, was a cafe just for cyclists. The owner turned away a family... 'only cyclists. Sorry.' Amazing freshly baked food. Top bread pudding!
Next stop after the first 60m loop was the club house. Then we had to cycle to Baldock to the chippy! Had a pie. Needed it. Shaun had done all the work on the front and had a cup of tea. I was just happy for my ass not to be hurting on me fixed. Skelders saddle and two pairs of extra pants did the trick. Funny seeing my lad through the window of the chip shop. And even more weird, cycling through Ashwell knowing we have another 30m to go and Therfield hill. Saw big Tim on a tractor. Why was big Tim on a tractor? The ride back wasn't bad in the end... took it easy. As Shaun says... ride under yr lactate threshold and if you feed, you can ride all day. It's true.
Got back to base with 128m on the garmin (a must have tool with the route loaded). Felt fine. Think Shaun felt even finer.
Could I do it all again today? Yes. Maybe a tad slower.
What a fantastic day of cycling. I didn't half enjoy that...
There were about 170 cyclists out over the 4 distances (50km, 100km, 150km, 200km) with about 50 on the 207km ride that Robbie and I did. Lots of Essex lanes and noticably less traffic than around here. No real hills to speak of (apart from Therfield), but quite rolling at times. We teamed up with several cyclists on the way round and there were even a couple of other fixie riders for Robbie to exchange gear ratios with.
I loved that first cafe at Stisted. Run by a retired cyclist who gives priority to the cafe's facilities to cyclists over the general public! Allegedly, Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) gets job lots of "special recipe" flapjack made there and uses it on training rides.
As mentioned, the Shaftsbury CC club 'ut (that one's known as "the Bungalow") is a great place with lots of photographic memorabilia on the walls including group photos right back to the 1880's with the riders posing with their Pennyfarthings and early "Safety bicycles". The place was heaving with riders from the other distances when we got back there at half-time for another quick snack. Then we tackled the faintly surreal task of riding to Baldock/Ashwell (the 100 mile point) before riding away again back to the finish!
Another bonkers effort from Robbie on fixed. It did mean that I had a relatively easy day while he span his legs off for nearly 8 hours! I've just decided to join the LEJoG team as a late entrant and when we got back to the car Robbie said "You should do it on fixed". I said I didn't have my fixed anymore (I gave up that nonsense long ago). "No problem", Robbie said, "I've got another one you could use". I said no.
well done chaps, top effort. i drove past you on the road from litlington to the a505 about 3:30 pm ish so guess you were on the last leg. there were 4 of you riding together. i wasnt envious! although i was come this morning when we all got very very wet on the 09:00...
Comments
Shaun
p.s. Anybody else comtemplating doing this, get your entry in soon...
203km, 08.00 start = http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/12-703/
157km, 09.00 start = http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/12-268/
109km, 10.00 start = http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/12-702/
(Another unofficial c.100km option, if you want to start at 8am, is to do some of the figure-of-8 200km)
Just registered for the 210km in stevenage though :)
I haven't yet signed up for the 157km so if your preference is to do the 109km then I would be happy to join you on that instead.
Vicky
Give me a shout
Shaun
The first stop... After 35m mostly of single track roads, was a cafe just for cyclists. The owner turned away a family... 'only cyclists. Sorry.' Amazing freshly baked food. Top bread pudding!
Next stop after the first 60m loop was the club house. Then we had to cycle to Baldock to the chippy! Had a pie. Needed it. Shaun had done all the work on the front and had a cup of tea. I was just happy for my ass not to be hurting on me fixed. Skelders saddle and two pairs of extra pants did the trick. Funny seeing my lad through the window of the chip shop. And even more weird, cycling through Ashwell knowing we have another 30m to go and Therfield hill. Saw big Tim on a tractor. Why was big Tim on a tractor? The ride back wasn't bad in the end... took it easy. As Shaun says... ride under yr lactate threshold and if you feed, you can ride all day. It's true.
Got back to base with 128m on the garmin (a must have tool with the route loaded). Felt fine. Think Shaun felt even finer.
Could I do it all again today? Yes. Maybe a tad slower.
There were about 170 cyclists out over the 4 distances (50km, 100km, 150km, 200km) with about 50 on the 207km ride that Robbie and I did. Lots of Essex lanes and noticably less traffic than around here. No real hills to speak of (apart from Therfield), but quite rolling at times. We teamed up with several cyclists on the way round and there were even a couple of other fixie riders for Robbie to exchange gear ratios with.
I loved that first cafe at Stisted. Run by a retired cyclist who gives priority to the cafe's facilities to cyclists over the general public! Allegedly, Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) gets job lots of "special recipe" flapjack made there and uses it on training rides.
As mentioned, the Shaftsbury CC club 'ut (that one's known as "the Bungalow") is a great place with lots of photographic memorabilia on the walls including group photos right back to the 1880's with the riders posing with their Pennyfarthings and early "Safety bicycles". The place was heaving with riders from the other distances when we got back there at half-time for another quick snack. Then we tackled the faintly surreal task of riding to Baldock/Ashwell (the 100 mile point) before riding away again back to the finish!
Another bonkers effort from Robbie on fixed. It did mean that I had a relatively easy day while he span his legs off for nearly 8 hours! I've just decided to join the LEJoG team as a late entrant and when we got back to the car Robbie said "You should do it on fixed". I said I didn't have my fixed anymore (I gave up that nonsense long ago). "No problem", Robbie said, "I've got another one you could use". I said no.
i wasnt envious! although i was come this morning when we all got very very wet on the 09:00...