Down with the British

[TAV]

Hi I've entered the down with the British 200k audax it says its a aaa 4 has anyone done this one before ?

 

[BrumJim]

Wow! Kidderminster killer is rougly the same distance, but only aaa 3.75, and has a reputation as one of the toughest 200k events out there.

All the best, and hope you have done plenty of practice hills.

 

[TAV]

To be honest I haven't I did the making hay the other month and I was feeling it on that my neck was killing and I felt weak as he'll. I've been for a professional bike fit now so hopefully that will sort the neck problem out out I don't know about the legs lol.

 

[Ajax Bay]

https://www.audax.uk/event-details/11003-down_with_the_british
Start/Arrivee = Cardiff. Controls at Blaenafon, Talybont-on-Usk, Treorchy, Maesteg and 3 information controls.
I have ridden a few of those climbs but not in a 200km ride. I've uploaded the .tcx provided and here's the route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47164588
Looks slightly short at 199km. The climb shows as 3,704m but my experience is that the RwGPS climb assessment is often >10% lass than the AudaxUK AAA analyser, so 4 AAA points reflects AAA reality.

 

[TAV]

Cheers I haven't seen the route yet.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Cheers I haven't seen the route yet.

Well open the RwGPS link and you'll see it in all its Valleys glory.

 

[TAV]

I've opened it and I've been up all those hills but not in one day it will be challenging. But that's what it's all about.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Plenty of scenery , including post-mining industrial.

 

[Ian H]

I rode it way back when Dave Lewis ran it. Dunno how much the route has changed since then, but it was a good slog across the Valleys taking in scenic bits and vistas of mining heritage.

 

[TAV]

Yeah hopefully the weather will be OK if I take my time I'll hopefully get around. I still haven't got my food strategy nailed down as I'm new to the audax rides. The last time I did one I carried alot in my muset, but then your adding extra weight and my bike and kit weighs a ton as it is.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Bag of mixed flapjack, cashews and raisins. a banana, and sit down and eat or buy from Talybont's excellent village shop/cafe at 77km.
Then Treorchy Coop at 137km. They are both controls so you'll be stopping anyway.
Aim to carry as little as possible in your back pockets (or indeed a bag on your back).
Did you see many other riders sporting a muset to help them 'make Hay'?

 

[TAV]

No I was the only one, my bike weighs a ton as well I've got a triple with a 32 on the back but the bike itself is really heavy.its a genisis equilibrium does weight make a big difference I know it's a combination of you and the bike but I need to get a lighter bike.

 

[Ian H]

That's a perfectly fine audax bike. I think I rode a steel Ribble I had built with mudguard clearances (and mudguards fitted). Triple chainset, It managed a couple of PBPs as well.

 

[TAV]

Happy with that then I'll stick with it and just get out there and ride instead of looking for reasons why I'm tired on the 200k rides lol.

 

[Ajax Bay]

https://road.cc/content/review/genesis-equilibrium-2021-279835
As Ian says.
Of course choosing a 200 with 4 AAA points is 'bold'.