Hi all, doing this for the first time this year. Done lots of long distance touring/camping, and 200k rides. As this is my first proper audax, got a couple of newbie questions.
Would I look like a complete prat with my small 15l commuting rucksack to carry my stuff, rather than a saddle bag?
I use one bike all year round and train all winter, this year has finally finished off my training wheels. Would I look a even bigger moron turning up with carbon wheels?
Basically, I don't want to stand out and look like a bell-end !
Thanks
Who cares what you look like? For the rucksack my personal concern would be limited to comfort followed by ease of access, two reasons I'd find a cheap alternative.
As to wheels my only concern, from experience, would be can I continue a ride after a spoke failure? Now if your carbon wheels have a low spoke count that would concern me, although it can be offset with a kevlar spoke.
One thing to consider, make sure whatever bag you use can easily hold everything, last year it was a pain to find at the first control where the weather has warmed from ~4'C to a lovely day that my bag wasn't really big enough for the very warm hours
I wasn't over-packed, finishing the ride in all my layers.