Doing my first audax - is my bike suitable and other tips?

Hello there and welcome to the world of audax. I do one every few weeks and really enjoy them. The governance of AUK and the fact they are usually run by people who simply enjoy cycling makes them a bit more consistant than sportives IME (although I also enjoy the odd sportive, before anyone starts that debate ).

The answer to many of your questions are "it depends" I'm afraid! However, things like "is my bike good enough" is most definitely "yes". I have seen folks turn up on all manner of machines and make it around but something light and responsive will always make cycling more enjoyable for me. Most audaxes are fairly generous with the max times so the min speed you will probably need to target is 12kph so if you can manage that at the mo on your bike then you will be fine. If you cannot, keep the bike but change the rider . Bear in mind that some routes can be very lumpy (3,000m of climbing in 100k, for instance) but you look to be ok there by your comments.

When it comes to what you will need to carry then there is no one answer. You will need to be self dependent but there is a big chunk of risk assessment in that. I carry what I carry on any long ride (food, water, a couple of cable ties, spare tubes and patches, pump, levers, chain brute, spare quick link, etc, etc.,) but I have also chatted to folks who carry spare spokes, brake pads..you name it. They are not wrong and I am not right...we just carry some different stuff based on perceived risk and previous experience.

A map is essential (even the best routecards can be undone by a last minute roadworks so"turn right at the next T" is of no use when you are on the wrong road). I would also recommend a mapholder for the routecard (the Polaris ones work brilliantly) if you are old school like me.

Tyres? Up to you. I get around on 23mm GP4000s, some folks get around on tyres that look like they came off a tractor! Something practical like Gatorskins in 28mm would be good and make the ride more enjoyable but I would recommend that you take this just like any long ride...so do a 50 miler this w/e and see what you think, etc., although you don't say what your normal ride lengths are??

Clothing? Same as usual. What would you normally take on a 100k ride? I wear my normal stuff and have a pacamac in a back pocket (good for wind protection/warmth if needed and also showers).

Finally, enjoy it! I normally shoot around but many folks take their enjoyment of the cafe stops very seriously and this is often the best place to meet and chat and meet a good ride buddy for the next leg. Here's a good site that is more audax specific, btw: http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=17.0 and the FAQs section covers pretty much everything.

Bike absolutely suitable. Reckon the route finding will be the challenge.
Have a great day and let us know how it went.

Can only echo previous responses.

Audax is a very broad church and you'll be riding with people on the latest and greatest super-light carbon bikes as well as people on touring bikes that are ready to take on a trip around the world. Same with what people are carrying - you'll see people with a pump and tube shoved in their back pocket, you'll see people with two fully stuffed panniers.

No-one is right or wrong - ride what you are happy and comfortable with.

People have very different approaches as to what they want to achieve when riding audax - some people want to get around the ride as fast as possible, others like to take their time and enjoy the scenery - again, both are totally valid.

Your Ridgeback tourer is more than suitable - I assume you've got it set up so it's very comfortable for a long day in the saddle - if so, it'll be perfect. I wouldn't overly stress about changing anything.

In terms of what spares etc. to carry - it's down to you - at a minimum a spare tube, levers and pump (you'll get little sympathy if you don't have those). For a 100km in the south of England I carry slightly different spares to a longer event in deepest Wales (where I might have spare gear/brake cables and a spare tyre).

Don't be worried about telling people it is your first audax - you'll find riders are generally a very welcoming crowd and will be able to offer you advice.

Study the routesheet before you ride - even have a look at Google Streetview at any tricky junctions. If you use GPS, make sure you've still got the printed routesheet in case of batteries failing, GPS going funny or whatever. (GPS is not really frowned upon - a lot of riders use it).

I hope you have a great ride! Be warned - it's addictive - get a few 100s under your belt and you'll be wondering if you can manage a 200, a few 200s and you'll be wondering about that 300 - next thing you know, you'll be riding London-Edinburgh-London next year!

Huntos,

Start with what you know and make any changes later after you get a feel of how you tackle these events. I wouldn’t change anything before this event, however in the longer term I would recommend good quality 23mm road tyres.

There is nothing wrong with a good quality touring bike and use one for our local chain gang training rides.

Pannier rack on with a small top bag sounds like a very good idea to me.

Stedman wrote:

however in the longer term I would recommend good quality 23mm road tyres.

And I would recommend 28mm or 30mm!

Everyone is going to have a different approach - but don't stress about the equipment too much. Time allowances on audax are quite generous - so it's not all about speed, comfort is far more important (one of the reasons I ride with 28mm), particularly if you choose to go up the distances. But, again, everyone is totally different - I've seen people out on wet, miserable 400km rides on a carbon bike with no mudguards, skinny tyres with a rain jacket stuffed in the back pocket as their only other clothing - they seem to have just as much 'fun' as me with a steel bike, mudguards and a Carradice saddlebag full of spare clothing and cake - admittedly their fun doesn't quite last as long as mine - but you might as well get full value from your entry fee!

As Stedman (and others) have said, ride what you have got and work out what kit to change, or even just adjust your current kit. There is no such thing as a perfect audax bike - just the perfect audax bike for you and the way you want to ride.

LVIS is 100km and 200km. plus minus 10km


Do the 200km! .

Long ride = better value! ;-). Also more cake.

Might do Jack and Grace depending on whether can get tandem/missus sorted out for then.

Huntos wrote:

craker - its the Jack & Grace Cotton memorial ride on the 17th March starting at Aztec West and heading up towards Gloucester. How far is the LVIS one? If this one goes OK I might do that as well!

Thanks for all the tips and advice, as recommended I think I will stick with my touring bike as I know it is comfortable over long distances. I do think I will change the tyres out for some 28mm though for a bit less rolling resistance, wouldn't go any smaller though to be honest as I like a little comfort and doubt much narrower would fit on my touring rims anyway. I have been meaning to switch to smaller tyres anyway for general use, and maybe save the 35mm ones for when I'm actually touring.

I am doing this as training for a tour round Europe, so I guess it makes sense to do it on the bike I'll be using for that anyway! If it goes well I may look to do a few more in the next couple of months before I go

Pen is a good tip, I'll make sure I pack one. Think I will keep the rear rack on with a top pack of a few supplies as this is what I normally do for day rides anyway.

I already have a good bit of stubble, so i reckon if I work hard I could gain a respectable beard by the event

You'll be fine - on last years LVIS I rode for a while with 2 guys on mountain bikes and everyone is very friendly/chatty

I did that Audax last year and it's pretty much flat for the first half, with only a few bumps (you skirt along the edge of the Cotswold escaprment) on the way back. Not doing it again as the route is pretty much the reverse of my old (and occasional) cycle back to Bristol from Gloucester.

I've also done the 110km LVIS Audax twice and prefer the circular route round Bristol (partially because I can stop at my mates in Bitton for a cup of tea and sarnie) but Dundry Hill is a hell of a hill to have to climb when you're only 5-10km from the finish line. Oh and the cake at Hill and the finish is epic.

If you are ever worried about the type of bike which is suitable for an Audax, I saw an electric bike on the Alfreton Three Fields event for the first time last Saturday. Apparently there is nothing in the rules which prevents this.

My view was that this was encouraging DDA move as the rider has had both a hip and knee replacement!