Spring Into The Dales 2011

[AudaxUK]

I'll be at Spring Into The Dales, taking photos and pootling along. This is a favourite of mine, not least for the awesome catering at the finish.

Danial (AUK press secretary)

 

[ColinJ]

I'll be at Spring Into The Dales, taking photos and pootling along. This is a favourite of mine, not least for the awesome catering at the finish.

Danial (AUK press secretary)

Hi Danial!

Ah yes, the awesome catering!

I did notice that the catering for the 8 hour slow train is marginally less awesome than what is available before the 5-6 hour faster gannets have descended on it, but there's always still enough left for me and I have a big appetite!

 

[italiafirenze]

A question for those who know.

Do you have to be a paid up member of AUK before you complete the event to qualify for a medal?

I would imagine so, but I know some brainy soul here can answer that.

I really fancy this but don't know if I can find the time.

And, there's the Saltayre day of racing on the saturday and the FNRTTC on the friday, I can't do them all, but don't know which I prefer.

 

[ColinJ]

A question for those who know.

Do you have to be a paid up member of AUK before you complete the event to qualify for a medal?

I would imagine so, but I know some brainy soul here can answer that.

Why not just join anyway? Having joined AUK, you'd probably be more likely to make the effort to ride audax events. If you do 10 events in the first year you'd be saving money, and in subsequent years you'd only have to ride 7 to break even. And you also get 4 nice magazines a year, one for each season.

 

[italiafirenze]

Why not just join anyway? Having joined AUK, you'd probably be more likely to make the effort to ride audax events. If you do 10 events in the first year you'd be saving money, and in subsequent years you'd only have to ride 7 to break even. And you also get 4 nice magazines a year, one for each season.

I wouldn't save anything because I'm already insured so wouldn't need to pay a fee anyway.

I've never done an Audax event but do like the sound of trying a few out. All I was thinking was if I decided on the day or the day before to come and do the event, could I still claim the medal if I went full membership the day after that,?

I seem to really like the idea of having a medal for something. I've got scores of runners up football trophies, and one winners! I like trinkets I think, it seems a bit sad doesn't it.

I just hate spending money until entirely necessary.

 

[ColinJ]

I wouldn't save anything because I'm already insured so wouldn't need to pay a fee anyway.

I've never done an Audax event but do like the sound of trying a few out. All I was thinking was if I decided on the day or the day before to come and do the event, could I still claim the medal if I went full membership the day after that,?

I seem to really like the idea of having a medal for something. I've got scores of runners up football trophies, and one winners! I like trinkets I think, it seems a bit sad doesn't it.

I just hate spending money until entirely necessary.

Well, you'd still have to pay the event entry fee, but not the insurance supplement.

Some organisers don't allow entry on the day because they like to strictly control rider numbers. It is probably best to contact the organiser in advance, even if you want to leave your decision until the last minute.


You can't be prevented from riding at the same time on the same open roads that the event is taking place on but that isn't really playing the game, is it? If everybody did that, there wouldn't be any events.

Don't forget, the entry fees are to cover the admin costs of the event organisers. The Audax UK organisation needs to be funded by its members.

The events are really good value for money compared to sportives. When I first started riding events, sportives were costing about double to triple what audaxes did. Nowadays, It can be 6 or 7 times as much which I think is a bit steep.


Not as nice as medals, maybe, but what you will get to collect are the brevet cards for each event that you complete. They have various stamps and signatures on and the name of the event and what time you did.

 

[asterix]

Alas I shall not be able to do SITD this year*. Really enjoyed it a couple of years ago although the final ascent was pretty gruelling.

The apres-ride hospitality was very much appreciated (and needed!).

*as consolation I aim to do the Richmond 5 dales

 

[PaulB]

Having enjoyed this two years ago and being disappointed having to miss it last year due to my injury, I'd be very annoyed if I missed it yet again so I've decided, that provided the two lungs I have are still in my chest and I haven't coughed them out, I'll be doing it again this year.

 

[AudaxUK]

I seem to really like the idea of having a medal for something. I've got scores of runners up football trophies, and one winners! I like trinkets I think, it seems a bit sad doesn't it.

I just hate spending money until entirely necessary.

If you like medals, and hate spending money, then you'll love audaxing. Cheap as chips and loads of awards. The spread at the end alone is worth the entry fee.

And yes, you can order a medal if you're not a member. You can buyt a cloth badge as well. In fact, you could have two of each, as the event qualifies for both distance and climbing badges/medals.

 

[Steve H]

I got my route sheet through as an email, so thought I'd follow the instruction sheet and map the ride (I know it's already on bikely, but I wanted to go through it in detail, so mapped it following the instruction sheet). It's here if anyone wants to take a look:

Spring Into The Dales



It looks like a really gorgeous route. Mainly back roads through lovely countryside. The toughest climbs appear to be right at the beginning getting out of Hebden Bridge and then right at the end getting back up to the big descent back down into Hebden Bridge. Rest of the route is rolling, but should be fine.

Feeling better about the route having gone through it in a bit more detail. Should be an excellent day. Let's hope we get weather like is forecast for this weekend.

 

[zacklaws]

It looks like a really gorgeous route. Mainly back roads through lovely countryside. The toughest climbs appear to be right at the beginning getting out of Hebden Bridge and then right at the end getting back up to the big descent back down into Hebden Bridge. Rest of the route is rolling, but should be fine.

I have a feeling Mapmyride is not giving you a true picture of the grade, there's certainly more than a few hills with more than than a 7% gradient, my Garmin records show a fair few from 8% up to 20%. The first four miles is a steady uphill but its no major problem and is not the steepest on the ride, getting back up it though is a bit of a grind at the end.

Colin probably knows more though with it being his neck of the woods

 

[ColinJ]

I have a feeling Mapmyride is not giving you a true picture of the grade, there's certainly more than a few hills with more than than a 7% gradient, my Garmin records show a fair few from 8% up to 20%. The first four miles is a steady uphill but its no major problem and is not the steepest on the ride, getting back up it though is a bit of a grind at the end.

Colin probably knows more though with it being his neck of the woods

The first section of Penistone Hill must be way more than 7%.

The climb after Ponden Reservoir up to Moor Lodge has a chevron on the OS map so it is 14+%.

There are a couple of others. Draughton Height is 17% and I have the proof!

I suggest going into SITD thinking that it will be your hardest ride so far, and if you are wrong - smile!

At the end of the event, if you can walk up the stairs at Salem Mill 2 steps at a time without pulling on the handrail, I'll be surprised!

 

[potsy]

I suggest going into SITD thinking that it will be your hardest ride so far, and if you are wrong - smile!

At the end of the event, if you can walk up the stairs at Salem Mill 2 steps at a time without pulling on the handrail, I'll be surprised!

If you were worried before I'm sure that's put your mind at ease Steve
Going off todays ride it's gonna be tough, but we can do it, and it's not a race

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Just signed up for this as well

 

[Steve H]

I suggest going into SITD thinking that it will be your hardest ride so far, and if you are wrong - smile!

At the end of the event, if you can walk up the stairs at Salem Mill 2 steps at a time without pulling on the handrail, I'll be surprised!

If you were worried before I'm sure that's put your mind at ease Steve
Going off todays ride it's gonna be tough, but we can do it, and it's not a race

Hey! I'd managed to get my ostrich head firmly in the sand again and was enjoying my weekend! Nothing like a 17% sign to bring reality come rushing home.

No - apart from feeling a bit light headed and under the weather yesterday, I've had a good week last week. Managed to ride a fair few times and been careful of what I eat, so dropped a couple of pounds (every little helps!). I've been out today into Oxenhope and up the big climb over the tops and down into Hebden. The descent going down into Hebden (the A6033) is a stunner. Reasonably smooth and very fast. With the sun shining like today, this is going up there as one of my favourite descents. Just hope I get all the way round SITD next weekend so I can enjoy this final descent again.

Although I was really reluctant to sign up for SITD, and I know it is going to be a massive test for me, I am looking forward to the day!

Right - I'm going to map the ride in a different piece of software now to get a better grip on the reality ahead.