The London Ditchling Devil, Sunday, 8th June 2014
manotea
Posts: 1,024
Our 4th edition of the London Ditchling Devil 200km (125 miles) Audax is on Sunday June 8th, a romp from Wimbledon Common down through the Surrey and Sussex countryside to Ditchling Beacon & The Devils censored , then back via the Surrey Hills to finish at Roehampton Gate Cafe, Richmond Park. Perfect!
We've got a great rolling route and food stops every 50km for for elevenses, lunch and tea. It's not flat but not officially hilly either, and generally fixer friendly for those who like that sort of thing (~70" should see you round fine). Fast types get round in about 8 hours, the rest of us take 10~12hrs, but it's not a race, so you can take your time.
As always, the secret of riding longer distances is to take it easy, pace yourself and enjoy the ride. You'll have plenty of time and the next rest stop is never that far away. Full details including online entry, route sheet and gps track can be found at events.paudax.com along with reviews and feedback from last years event
Enter on-line - £12 for AUK/CTC members, £14 others Clicky
Riding down to the coast and back is always a blast, a classic day out for London Cyclists.
We've got a great rolling route and food stops every 50km for for elevenses, lunch and tea. It's not flat but not officially hilly either, and generally fixer friendly for those who like that sort of thing (~70" should see you round fine). Fast types get round in about 8 hours, the rest of us take 10~12hrs, but it's not a race, so you can take your time.
As always, the secret of riding longer distances is to take it easy, pace yourself and enjoy the ride. You'll have plenty of time and the next rest stop is never that far away. Full details including online entry, route sheet and gps track can be found at events.paudax.com along with reviews and feedback from last years event
Enter on-line - £12 for AUK/CTC members, £14 others Clicky
Riding down to the coast and back is always a blast, a classic day out for London Cyclists.
"Put the kettle on, I\'m gaspin"
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Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
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Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
A grand day out.
I'll be there in some capacity - possibly stamping your cards at one of the controls.
Was my first 200 km too & teaches you that eating regularly is key -- I tend to ride 100 km without stops (I was in a fugue state by Combe Bottom). And highly recommend using a GPS if you're directionally challenged with cue sheets (as I was & got very very lost).
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
Not at all.
Traditionally, you would navigate with a route sheet. But this has largely been overtaken with GPS usage for navigation.
There will be downloads for the GPS files if you use one. Or you print out the routesheet and cobble together a holder for your handlebars, or put it in a plastic bag and put it into your back pocket and refer to it (and memorise the next 2-3 instructions). Or hang onto other's wheels!
You will receive a Brevet Card at the start. This will have various stamps to be collected at the controls to show you have passed that point. When you arrive at each village hall control, your card will be stamped and you can then go and have a cup of tea and a cake.
It all sounds complex, but it isn't. There'll be a large field with many seasoned Audaxers and plenty of first-timers.
200km is a fair old distance, but the relaxed cut-off (you have around 13.5 hours to complete the ride) means that it is very achievable for anyone with a bit of fitness and a good mental outlook. There are some lumps on the ride (Turners Hill, Ditchling Beacon, Devil's censored and Combe Lane are the headliners), but equally some fairly flat terrain. It's a great route and it's an easy story to tell your mates ("rode down to Brighton, rode back").
Otherwise I'll probably end up on the motorway like I have in the past on a previous ride to Brighton and in France!
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
(Every cycle tour in France has to end up with at least one little excursion on the motorway. I think it is in the rules)
You will be fine - especially if you use gps.
If not, stick with the bunch! But do make sure you have a copy of the routesheet in your backpocket just in case things start to go wrong.
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
Climbing Ditchling Beacon on fixed the first time is a bit of a triumph. The thing to remember when it comes to climbing on fixed (unless you are superlight/fit, which I am not), is that its really about technique. The trick is to pace yourelf through the climb, taking it slow at first and aim to keep your breathing/heart rate under control so you don't 'blow up'.
On the navigation front, last year about 1/3 used GPS, 1/3 used the routesheet and the rest tagged along with buddies, which is fair enough. Audax encourages riders to be independent theres no point being dogmatic about these things. If you do tag along though it pays to keep an eye on the routesheet just in case you do end up on your own!
Sometimes seen bimbling around on a purple Fratello Disc or black and red Aprire Vincenza.
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
Nope! I have never ridden fixed- I value my knees!
Sometimes seen bimbling around on a purple Fratello Disc or black and red Aprire Vincenza.
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
Sometimes seen bimbling around on a purple Fratello Disc or black and red Aprire Vincenza.
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
Route sheet, handlebar mount (bit of wood/plastic sheet & zip ties) and Google streetview. Run through the route on streetview before you do it, so turnings are familiar. Maps are difficult to read, cue sheets aren't, and a couple of hours (maybe 3
I don't ever use GPS, but I do prepare properly, and have never become irretrievably lost.
Little video from the signing on.
A great turn out on a fabulous day. I had a great time stamping cards at the 150km control.
Well done all the riders!
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
And we formed some excellent pace lines, so I shaved more than 2 hours off my time even with leisurely long stops (that said last year was such a debacle it's a wonder I got back before sunrise).
Huge thanks to Paul the organiser if he reads this. It leaves most of the for profit sportives in the dust ... perhaps the lack of a timing chip makes people friendlier? Wish every ride was that much fun.