My first audax - tips?
RallyBiker
Posts: 378
I've put my name down for the north Wales based Sych it and Sea audax. I've never done one before, but the £5 entry fee seemed so inviting, well what can you do, but do it?! It's 210km with 2850m elevation. Fitness wise I'm on it, but audax experience is nil. I've only done 100+mile sportives (Etape Eryri, Dragon, Cheshire Cat etc.) so any tips from audaxer would be most welcome.
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I don't know this one in particular, but most rides have stages of 50-80km between controls (cafes or village halls etc.), so it's only ever a series of 3ish hour rides punctuated by a cup of tea!
If you've ridden 100 miles, you'll be absolutely fine with 125.
If you are not a GPS user, make sure you have a way of mounting your routesheet on your bars - there are purpose-made map-traps, but a bit of stiff plastic board (the stuff estate agents use to make their boards (Corex?) is ideal with a couple of cable ties and a bull-dog clip or elastic bands - put the route sheet in a plastic bag).
Beyond that, just carry what you normally would on a long day out (tools, tubes, pump etc.) and clothing to deal with anticipated conditions. A pencil in case there are any info questions (to prove you have passed a certain point there may be a question on the brevet card to ask something like "when is the last post collected on a Tuesday at the junction of X and Y?") - though many of us just take a photo of the answer on our phones and fill in the card at the end.
Beyond the route finding and having to be a bit more self-sufficient, there's little difference to the approach you've had on previous sportives.
Enjoy it!
Edited to add - we're moving towards the time of the year where fuller-value riders (as those who take towards the maximum time allowed are affectionately known!) will have to start to think about lights towards the tail-end of events (a 200km starting at 8am will have until (roughly) 9:40pm completion).
These are some general hints from Audax Uk
http://www.aukweb.net/hints/ride/
The event will probably differ in a number of ways to a sportif. It will probably be more relaxed. The controls are open for a specific period if you arrive to late or early they will have closed or not have opened yet. But there is a huge window so unless you turn up late and ride very slowly you should be fine. No one will run into a control point stuff cake into their mouth and then jump back on to their bike cyclo-cross style whilst splutter on inhaled cake crumbs in order to achieve their time. Whilst taking part talk to some other riders and the people at the controls. The tea and cake at the finish is usually very good.
Have a great ride.
Beard is optional but there seem to be alot of riders with them on Audaxes!
http://audaxbangor.weebly.com/uploads/1 ... _route.pdf
Might have a beard ready in time.
The route has changed slightly from the one on the AUK website according to it.
Only optional for ladies although the majority opt for one
Joking aside, audaxes are great but don't think that all those turning up will be chuggers; there can be a very good turnout with a wide range of riders. The self sufficiency thing is important: make sure the bike and tyres are in good nick, take at least a couple of spare tubes, some patches, multi-tool, etc. I also find a couple of cable ties invaluable for the odd repair. I usually also pull out a few pertinent map pages from a large scale road atlas and stuff em in my back pocket. I also read through the routecard and anything I am unsure about then I use google street view (probably not necessary with a Garmin but I have run across chaps with Garmins that have died and they were completely lost...and no real idea of what to do without the technology). Failing that, enjoy the ride and get good value for your fiver (there are no medals for course records
We can only tell you that once you become a Super Randonneur.
I used to know someone who rode carrying two of these (they are 30 cm long), a crank extractor and a large adjustable spanner for all those occasions you need to pop your bottom bracket out at the roadside.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cyc ... lsrc=aw.ds
I suppose for every one of these people there will be someone riding with no pump, tubes and tyre levers.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-267/