Thursday 11 June 2009

London - Edinburgh - London

As some of you know I've entered the 1400km Audax bike ride from London to Edinburgh and back.
It's a ride held every 4 years and this is the 6th running of the event.
There is a time limit of 116hrs and 40mins to complete the ride, this means that with an 8am start on the Sunday I have to be back by 5am on the Friday morning. It works out at about 300km (180miles) a day.
There are 600 riders from 30 countries (some from as far as Australia) that have entered so should be a really good ride.
As I write this it's only 43 days away!! To say I'm slightly worried about it is an understatement.
Well I suppose worried is the wrong word, but as I've still not managed to finish a 600km ride so far this year it's getting very close and the time is disappearing fast.

Audax rides over here are run by Audax UK and range from 50km calendar rides.
These are organised rides with route sheets that take you on a scenic loop (hills usually included) via cafes, village halls and garages. You also get a card which you get stamped/collect receipts or answer questions on it to prove you've been to all the places on the route.
Then there are permanent rides from 50km again up to rides like the 3315km Great triangle taking in all 4 corners of the UK.
All rides over 200km get points (2 for a 200km, 3 for a 300km etc') and at the end of the season you can see how far behind the points champion you are.
Last year I got 35 points. The top point scorer so far is Steve Abraham, he racked up 405 in the 2007 season. But he just likes a challenge!!

Be careful though they are very addictive, I started on a 100km event 4 years ago.
I now often find myself sat on a garage forecourt at 2am eating a cold pasty with a bottle of flavoured milk to wash it down. When not riding I often sit at home on the computer trying to work out 200km/300km/600km routes that go via these 24hr cafes and garages to then go out and ride. The joys of long distance cycling!!

If you want to read more about them or join in they are great fun (if a little challenging at times!!) take a look at the Audax and cyclosportive pages over on yACF.
It is a great cycling forum full of friendly people that will help you out and answer any questions you have bike related or not.

Oh well, back to the on-line route mapping. Now working on a ride that goes up to Scunthorpe and down through the fens of east anglia.

TTFN

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