The audax season?

[chilipapa]

Is this a calender year, or just a few months of the year?

I wanted to make the Stevenage 200 my first, and if that went okay I fancied diving in for the SR this year.

[border-rider]

1 November - 31 October

edit: this being a PBP year, many of the calendar 400s and 600s will be crowded in in May & June. Even in a normal year they tend to be in the months with the longest days, and people wanting to ride long distances in the darker months do perms

[Alouicious]

The reason for this is every other bike club in the country ask for their subscription fees at the end of the calendar year.
Audax asks for your membership fee before you've spent it on buying yourself a Christmas present.

[border-rider]

membership year is a calendar year.  It's the events year only that runs November-November

[chilipapa]

Ah, I wouldn't want to deny a PBP rider a place.

[border-rider]

Ah, I wouldn't want to deny a PBP rider a place.

That's very unlikely to be an issue.  A few very popular events have filled up in the past (1999) but not since, I think.

What are you thinking of riding for your SR ?

[chilipapa]

I haven't thought about it much past the Stevenage 200.

This sounds daft, but I've just started wearing glasses  for reading, but I can't ride in them. So initially I'm staying local'ish until I'm more familiar with route finding.

Ideally the Chalfont 'big ones' would be the ones I go for. 

[Tewdric]

Ah, I wouldn't want to deny a PBP rider a place.

You're just as entitled to enter as a PBP hopeful.  Good luck with the SR!

[Manotea]

I haven't thought about it much past the Stevenage 200.

This sounds daft, but I've just started wearing glasses  for reading, but I can't ride in them. So initially I'm staying local'ish until I'm more familiar with route finding.

Ideally the Chalfont 'big ones' would be the ones I go for.  

If you contact the event organiser they will provide a copy of the routesheet as a word document so those that want can reformat them using larger fonts, whatever, as they might prefer.

My solution was to start using a GPS so I don't have to read the routesheet at all!

[hellymedic]

I haven't thought about it much past the Stevenage 200.

This sounds daft, but I've just started wearing glasses  for reading, but I can't ride in them. So initially I'm staying local'ish until I'm more familiar with route finding.

Ideally the Chalfont 'big ones' would be the ones I go for.  

If you contact the event organiser they will provide a copy of the routesheet as a word document so those that want can reformat them using larger fonts, whatever, as they might prefer.

My solution was to start using a GPS so I don't have to read the routesheet at all!

Arial Rounded MT Bold is IMO the font/fount/typeface that is most legible for its point size but YMMV.

Varifocal spectacle lenses are pricy, take some acclimatising and aren't too brilliant for sideways glances but may still be helpful for you.

[chilipapa]

Thank you, the advice on here has been excellent already.

I'll probably try a dry run with an old route card first, though  GPS is something to consider for the future. Right now I need to knock up a suitable bike for more than 200k. My current bike was built for racing Crits with the LVRC - comfy it's not.

Stand by for more Qs.

[ian_oli]

I'm working on finalising details for the Willesden 3Down 300K and will be offering the Routesheet as a spreadsheet, amongst other formats, so you will be able to chop and change it as much as you like.

[hellymedic]

If you can commute to work (a reasonable distance) by bicycle, you will not go far wrong using your commuting bike for audax.
You can address comfort and mechanical issues close to home/work rather than miles from civilisation on a dark, wet night. You will know what is reliable and does not instantly disintegrate.

[Tewdric]

I'm working on finalising details for the Willesden 3Down 300K and will be offering the Routesheet as a spreadsheet, amongst other formats, so you will be able to chop and change it as much as you like.

That's a very useful facility that other organisers could learn from.

I always like to get the hilly bits out of the way while I'm fresh..

[ian_oli]

I'm working on finalising details for the Willesden 3Down 300K and will be offering the Routesheet as a spreadsheet, amongst other formats, so you will be able to chop and change it as much as you like.

That's a very useful facility that other organisers could learn from.

I always like to get the hilly bits out of the way while I'm fresh..

It's done for you already. The hills are mainly at the start.

[chilipapa]

Unfortunately commuting isn't an option - tools etc. I am already riding 200km  on what I have, but that's as far as I'd want to ride it. Plus it's carbon everything so I  don't want to attach stuff to it. A second hand steel one is waiting in the wings

Ian, the Willesden rides look well suited to my needs. Thanks