What's your next Audax?

[Ridgeway]

Nice one last Sunday AM, Cyclotour du Leman. Scrapped in at 4hrs 59mins for the 176km but lost time in the last section due to 2 crashes (not me) but i had to check on the poor fellas that fell, both were fine. Also had a loose steerer tube/handlebar worry, wasn't too bad but did cause me to stop and check it and also take my time a bit. Dropped from an ave +37kmh to 35kmh finally although i probably did 100km on the front as very few seemed to want to do any work... and i couldn't keep up with the fast boys who were ave +40kmh next year i'll have a plan

Was a tad cold as well no idea how some boys managed in shorts and summer jerseys they also had funky looking bikes and no socks.....

 

[matticus]

I'm not the thread police, this is just FYI:
Those events aren't audax/randonees, and are NOTHING like any audax that I am aware of.
(for one thing you'd be unlucky to see 2 crashes in 1 event - not sure I've seen 2 crashes in total!)

Quick google ...

Cyclotour du Léman
https://www.region-du-leman.ch › cyclotour-du-leman

The Cyclotour du Léman is a popular cycling race which is open to all – both amateur and keen sportsmen and women.

 

[Ridgeway]

Good point, i'm never sure of the definitions between Fondo, GF, Sportives and Audax, especially as we seem to see more and more Ultra GF and other variations. Seems the lines have blurred some what

 

[DCLane]

To me that looks like a Gran Fondo, rather than an audax. However, given that Paris-Brest-Paris has similar at the start/finish ...

I was going to enter the Eureka audax this morning, but it's closed https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9156

 

[matticus]

To me that looks like a Gran Fondo, rather than an audax. However, given that Paris-Brest-Paris has similar at the start/finish ...

Do you mean they both have bikes, lycra, and some barriers?? Do me a favour, you know darn well there are more important differences!

 

[footloose crow]

I'm not the thread police, this is just FYI:
Those events aren't audax/randonees, and are NOTHING like any audax that I am aware of.
(for one thing you'd be unlucky to see 2 crashes in 1 event - not sure I've seen 2 crashes in total!)

Quick google ...
Cyclotour du Léman
https://www.region-du-leman.ch › cyclotour-du-leman

The Cyclotour du Léman is a popular cycling race which is open to all – both amateur and keen sportsmen and women.

Agreed not an audax in the UK sense of the term but an interesting report nonetheless and happy to see it here. The average speed was a bit intimidating though, even on a flat route. TdF riders average about 40kmh over the whole Tour I think. My average on an (albeit reasonably hilly) audax is usually about 22kmh!

 

[matticus]

Agreed not an audax in the UK sense of the term but an interesting report nonetheless and happy to see it here.

Where does all this fudging come from - it's not ANY country's version of Audax!!!
(which doesn't mean I have any problems with RIdgeway's post, apart from it triggering the slither of OCD deep in my soul ... )

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Thinking of the South Bucks 200km winter warmer on 4th December. Not one I’ve done before and fits well if I decide on the Poor Student on Jan 1st.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Good point, i'm never sure of the definitions between Fondo, GF, Sportives and Audax, especially as we seem to see more and more Ultra GF and other variations. Seems the lines have blurred some what

Because audax is not defined by it being a just a long ride. An event of the types you mention, for instance being 300km, doesn’t make it an audax. The way events are run and the rules they follow makes all the difference.

Similarly, me running 400m round the block does not mean I’m blurring the lines with the Olympic 400m final.

 

[Ian H]

200k DIY tomorrow. A reprise of Sarah's 'Nightmare Ride' of ten years ago (not only did it not get above freezing all day, but we went to Westward Ho!). Weather is more promising tomorrow but the destination is the same.

 

[footloose crow]

A slipped disc and a possible further 3-4 weeks off the bike means I won't be doing 'Breakfast in Bampton' as planned next Saturday. Not happy.....

But I am allowed to use the turbo trainer according to the physio although I suspect she didn't mean what I have just discovered on Zwift. I think she said 10-15 minutes gentle pedalling.

There are organised (not by AUK!) audaxes on Zwift! Up to 200km.

Did everyone else except me know this already? May keep me sane until I can cycle outdoors again. I have no idea why cycling outside is bad for your back and indoors isn't, but it has been impressed on me that I must not cycle my bike outdoors or bad things will happen to me.

 

[Chap sur le velo]

You have the sympathy of fellow back sufferers worldwide. Get well soon as...

 

[DCLane]

I'm starting to think ahead to LEL 2022 or more likely PBP 2023. To do that I'll need to complete some pre-qualifiers for early entry and they'll need to be BRM events, so I'm thinking of:

200:
Mere 200 - 27 Feb: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9394

300:
Plains 300 - 16 Apr: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9436
OR
Everybody Rides to Skeggy 300 - 11 Jun: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9241

400:
Not Quite The Spurn Head 400 - 14 May: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9526
OR
Llanfair 400 - 28 May: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9392

600:
E&W Coasts 600 - 9 Jul: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9522

Entry number limits appear really low due to Covid restrictions so I'll decide over the weekend. Son no. 2 has A-level exams then racing, so if I can get them in before races really start that'd be helpful. For reference:

London-Edinburgh-London 1400 - 7-12 Aug 2022: https://londonedinburghlondon.com/
Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 - 20-24 Aug 2023: https://www.paris-brest-paris.org/index2.php?lang=en&cat=accueil&page=edito

For those unaware: LEL has no pre-qualifier requirements. However, PBP requires BRM qualifiers from Oct 2022 and preferably a BRM pre-qualifier from Oct 2021 to gain early entry, the longer the better. Populaire (BP) and Randonneur (BR) events don't count, as I learnt to my detriment in 2015 but still grabbed a 'late' place (use the 'Advanced Search button on here - https://audax.uk/choose-a-ride/calendar-events/ ).

It's likely a 2022 400km BRM event will be needed as a minimum for PBP in 2023, possibly a 600km due to their early entry requirements - I'd got a 200 and a 600 only but got early entry for 2019 due to the Blackpool-Glasgow-Blackpool 600 I'd ridden in late September 2018, where I got exposure on Shap Fell due to mis-timing and no warm clothing plus rattled to bits using 23mm tyres both ways on the Moffatt-Kirkmuirhill B7078.

Update: I've entered the lot just in case and will withdraw in good time for any I can't do. That way someone else can have my place, however I do want to get an SR series done in 2022 having last done one in 2019.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Entered the Willy Warmer 200 which is on Jan 22nd. My October cold took longer to get over than I expected and fitness took a hit. This gives me approx 9 weeks to be back in shape to enjoy a 200. Not so far away it’s abstract but not so close it’ll try and push the fitness and endurance back up too quickly.

 

[PMarkey]

Entered the Newport 200 on the 30th Jan in an attempt to get my Mojo back, not been on a bike or trike since crashing big style back in June of this year but hoping to ride LEL next year so I need to make an effort .