Oh, very true. But it's the time element again. I get exactly the same feeling on one of my own rides if my ticket is valid for a specific train and I'm cutting it fine. I hate time pressure when cyclling. To Hummers: done that too.
It would appear that audax is not for you, but it's only one of a large number of cycling disciplines, none of which are going to appeal to everyone.
Yes Ian.
On the other hand, I thrive on the pressure. Ever since I was 13 years old and wanted to cycle as far away from home in my summer holidays from school. I had to get home before my parents or I'd have been found out and my bike would be locked away in the garage for the rest of the holiday.
My 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2007 seasons were constant pressure. The individual rides would have never have been much of a challenge, but putting them all as close together as I did made them a lot harder and I really didn't want to fail any. It was very depressing for me when I failed a 1500k permanent in 2007, even though what I'd done beforehand made it a very good performance for me. I wasn't entirely confident that I could manage what I had planned for the last two months of 2007 and really felt under pressure. But from that, allthough I felt exhausted from what I'd done in the previous 10 months, I felt alive, even if a bit scared. I look back on it now and still can't work out how I managed it. It's as if a different person did it all now. It took over my life for that year and I oubt I'll ever do it again, even though I think I could do even more. I've had my turn now, more than ebough times and there's much more to life. But I'm certainly glad that I had those very tough years. I learned a lot each time and in some ways I miss not doing it.
2007 left me pretty shell shocked and confused. My 2000 season blew my head to pieces and I reckon it took me about 2-3 years to recover. It knocked me down to an all time low, but I learned so much from it and I gained a great deal from it as I gradually built myself up again. I'd have never done what I did in 2007 if it wasn't for my hellish 2000 season.
I've gained an awful lot from Audaxing, but now it's time for me to move on and just use Audax rides as social and fun rides andto help keep the miles ticking over. I think I've pretty well got almost all I can get from it now. The best thing I do now is my September 600s when I help others ride their first 600. My first 600 and SR series is still the biggest sense of elation I've ever had from anything I've done in cycling. My points chasing years never gave me the same level of elation. They were different each time and were more life changing experiences more than anything else.
Riding in the very eraly hours can be very miserable when it's not going your way. Being sleepy is the worst thing. But hen you're firing on all cylinders, the miles are racing by, full moon ablaze and everything hunky dory, it can be the best thing in the world.
A 600k ride for me is more like a club run or weekend ride. They used to be a very big challenge, but after all I've done, they are pretty tame. I aim to keep myself in condition to be able to ride a 600 on any given weekend of the year with no warning.(weather conditions permitting, I wouldn't ride if it's icy) Audaxing has conditioned me to be able to do this. My default mode of transport now is my cycle, regardless of distance. I'll only use other means of transport when I physically cannot cycle to the destination in time, or perhaps to avoid very unpleasant cycling. I'll think nothing of setting off from work Friday afternoon to reach some distance place by cycling through the night. Audax has turned cycling into an any time activity.
Audax - it never gets easier, you just go further.
That's very true, if you pursue it enough.
