Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Manotea on 01 April, 2013, 01:09:15 pm
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In response to unprecedented demand I've found a few more hundred metres to entertain Audaxers Aspiring to Asphyxiation and lo, The AAAnfractous (yes, that's 3As) is born. Much the same as the regular route except on leaving Chalfont you turn left instead of right for an early dose of Chiltern goodness before you pop out (or should that be 'are plopped out'?) at Marlow for the long haul up to Christmas Common. But fear not, lovers of the regular route have not been neglected, for that continues as The Less Anfractuous, with the visit to Chiltern's lanes on the homeward leg a strictly optional extra.
The AAAnfractous/Less Anfractous/Nyctophobic next run in October. No Perm versions I'm afraid but GPS DIYers welcome.
And yes, The AAAnfractuous is eligible for the Grimpeurs Du Sud!
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OOOOH - does it involve Cookham?
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The change is on the outrun to Marlow. Everybody gets to do Quarry Wood (the hill with the hairpin after Marlow on the way to Cookham Rise) on the way home. See also, Harvest Hill.
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Yay. What was already an excellent ride now has something additional to stir my loins. And it's a full fat AAA ride, none of this "if it's a bit lumpy for 100km then it gets points" wimpiness :thumbsup:
As I'm pondering riding more fixed wheel next year, this might be my first AAA ride on t'cog.
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Ooh.
Sounds good.
Anfractuous is one of the harder non-AAA rides out there (mainly due to the pummelling you take in the last 40km), so this sounds all the better.
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just entered :)
at last some rewAAArd for that pain of Creaky Bottom and Jockstrap Lane
a real opportunity to see a grown man cry, collapse, walk etc as I'll have been on a 2 week diet of rubbish and flatness across the pond immediately before
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Subscribing for now, sounds good!
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I'm AAAlso in
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another enrty from AC hAAAckney...
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PaypAAAl entry in. Will allow me to keep my 2xBR AAA chain going into the new season :thumbsup:
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This'll be my 3rd time (my god, I'm becoming a regular!), and looking forward to getting climbing points so close to London. Always thought this was the most difficult 200 in the SE.
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Ekimeno. Feel free to enter my Around Weald Expedition for comparison....
Edenbridge start, so close to London. Features some climbs that will make your day memorable (although the grimp isn't the main purpose of the ride, it's more about the scenery which just happens to require climbing some iconic hills in Kent and Sussex). 7 July.
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Ekimeno. Feel free to enter my Around Weald Expedition for comparison.... 7 July.
would love to but clashes with TT up the Alpe d'Huez following the Marmotte on 6th July :smug:
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Aye, haven't done that one and will have to wait till next year as I'll be at the Etape in France on that day... will likely be doing the Hop Garden in May though which takes in a few Kent hills - did it last year in torrential rain and flooding!
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There is a perm version. Good training ;)
Swanley or Selsfon starts possible.
Also Meridian Hills perm. Orpington/Green St Green start possible.
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I've entered. My RRTY for August was yesterday, and for September will be the 28th. At least with this one for October I'm getting it in at the start of the month!
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Entered the AAAnfractuous :thumbsup:
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Plaaan to enter this one aaas in need to get rides in to keep RRRTY aaambitions intaaact!
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Entered the AAAnfractuous :thumbsup:
+1
I've entered rides in Oct Nov and Dec now. Best not enter anything in January. Just to be safe.
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Having left my September ride to the very end of the month (and done bugger all since early August) I don't think my legs are up to the AAA. The "less" is good enough for me.
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I suspect the AAA version is not going to be a whole heap of added hardness compared to the traditional version.
I think the greatest test of endurance will be how many times I have to get my pen out and fill in an info question on the grimpeur. On the plus side, it will give a legitimate reason for stopping the bike rather than having to dismount for being a bit podgy on the climbs.
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I've ridden the new AAA version and you're right Billy - it's not massively more challenging than the regular version (that's to say it makes a reasonably challenging ride already into a slightly more challenging one - but it's not the most insane ride out there, there are plenty of faster, flatter parts along the way).
I was never a fan of the ride out to Marlow on the original - so the AAA version is actually rather nicer. There's only one stiff climb really, just out of High Wycombe. The rest of the new ascent is fairly mild.
Of course, you're then into all the old favourites - Streatley etc.
So, really, other than those who want to blast around the old route in 8 hours (bypassing the hills on the last section), there's no excuse for not riding the hillier version and collecting those 3 lovely AAA points to start off the season.
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Not sure about riding this one on fixed - got a slightly sore knee after riding 188 miles commuting in the last week. Could fettle the Madone back into Audax mode in time for the weekend.
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I've ridden the new AAA version and you're right Billy - it's not massively more challenging than the regular version (that's to say it makes a reasonably challenging ride already into a slightly more challenging one - but it's not the most insane ride out there, there are plenty of faster, flatter parts along the way).
I was never a fan of the ride out to Marlow on the original - so the AAA version is actually rather nicer. There's only one stiff climb really, just out of High Wycombe. The rest of the new ascent is fairly mild.
Of course, you're then into all the old favourites - Streatley etc.
So, really, other than those who want to blast around the old route in 8 hours (bypassing the hills on the last section), there's no excuse for not riding the hillier version and collecting those 3 lovely AAA points to start off the season.
Well I offer no excuses, I'm just a wimp, and certainly not going for 8 hours :o
Now, tell me about the way to bypas the hills on the last section ;D
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I've ridden the new AAA version and you're right Billy - it's not massively more challenging than the regular version (that's to say it makes a reasonably challenging ride already into a slightly more challenging one - but it's not the most insane ride out there, there are plenty of faster, flatter parts along the way).
I was never a fan of the ride out to Marlow on the original - so the AAA version is actually rather nicer. There's only one stiff climb really, just out of High Wycombe. The rest of the new ascent is fairly mild.
Of course, you're then into all the old favourites - Streatley etc.
So, really, other than those who want to blast around the old route in 8 hours (bypassing the hills on the last section), there's no excuse for not riding the hillier version and collecting those 3 lovely AAA points to start off the season.
Well I offer no excuses, I'm just a wimp, and certainly not going for 8 hours :o
Now, tell me about the way to bypas the hills on the last section ;D
You'd have to ask the cheaters people who do the flat main road route for the end section! I'd not want to miss out on those lovely hills where there's always just one more to go until the end.
Now the ride has moved a month earlier, those hills are a little easier than they are in November with less leaves and stuff on the ground to stop you gaining any traction.
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Don't worry Pete I'm riding the lesser. I'll save the AAA for a year where I might be chasing those points. The way I see it, the lesser gives me more time in the cafe or pubs along the way.
I'm staying overnight Friday as well if anybody is going for a nightcap the night before.
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Looks like a good to start of the season with a an initial forecast of cloudy with light 9mph westerly turning north westerly winds , temp around 14C.
See you all at the start
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I'll be there at the start for tea pouring duties.
I'm not riding due to business commitments - but I may well put in an appearance at the end for more tea pouring duties!
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I've realised I'm free on Sat, so will probably pop out and ride some of this - will definitely include Benson and Wantage. Will see how early I get up!
(Despite this being a nice ride, the start is just a real pain to get to, only to backtrack 40 miles almost to my house, etc ...)
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I've entered the Nyctophobic. I think I must have missed last year.
I'm thinking of bringing the trike. This is not masochism or folly, so much as an attempt to guarantee not falling off sideways when I stall on Colstrope Lane. Depends whether I get it fettled in time, however.
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'Just entered. I may regret this.
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It did seem a good idea when I entered but I'm having some serious doubts.
What doesn't kill you ......
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I baggsie Lanterne Rouge.
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I baggsie Lanterne Rouge.
You might have some significant competition for that honour ;D
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You might have some significant competition for that honour ;D
If so I'll be very delighted!
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Have been wondering whether to dark side the Nycto, or df the 200, but the forecast looks fair so there's no excuse for full valve. First 200 since April!
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You might have some significant competition for that honour ;D
If so I'll be very delighted!
It's my RRTY for October so no need to validate this one Tony and I'm at the start of the month for a 200 for once!
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Back from tea-pouring duties.
Great turnout - quite a sizeable field on all of the three rides today. Looks like a great day for the time of year, it's very mild and seems quite still as well.
Couple of snaps from the start (mainly the early 7:30 starters) - I should have got a photo of Frank's insane time-trial rig - quite something:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/10096740885_df7c5d11c2_o.jpg)
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/10096720274_8b92fa63f4_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/10096776025_8d55ba4bb3_o.jpg)
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/10096772524_6968ff6933_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/10096786724_bbc355e3a6_o.jpg)
See some of you at the end (those who take longer than about 10 hours)
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THink I saw one of the riders just now in Great Shefford? Would 1415 there make sense timingiwse?
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Sounds right.
This time last year the first Anfractous riders were home.
Looks like the AAAnfractuous has done its work, heh heh.
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Saw various Anfractions as I was out on my training ride this morning, in the Goring area. All looked to be having a good time but that was before Streatley Hill :smug:
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Errata:
http://events.paudax.com/content/aandn
The turn after the Wantage bikeshop is a LEFT.
HTH
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Well I have just completed my 1st Audax, I only did the Nyctophobic but I got round without getting lost which is a good start ;D Met some really friendly people, i had a great Sausage sandwich at the Waterfront Cafe. A cracking route with great scenery and some nasty hills thrown in to keep us on our toes. i have the bug, will do a 200 km next :o
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I will leave it for others to fill in details and photos, but Von broad has been up to his frame snapping and fixing tricks again. Is there no end to his talents?
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I will leave it for others to fill in details and photos, but Von broad has been up to his frame snapping and fixing tricks again. Is there no end to his talents?
He doesn't seem too great at pre-ride checks.
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I enjoyed the Nyctophobic, as usual.
There was a bad crash on the M1 near Hemel Hempstead, so I was delayed and started 20 minutes late - no great problem, haven't heard anything about the victims, hope they are OK.
I started to catch some of the riders around Little Marlow, and thereafter did my usual thing towards the back of the field, crawling up hills and getting caught, then getting moving again as the roads got flatter.
I've ridden up Colstrope Lane three or four times before, but for some reason today my heart wasn't in it, and I walked almost from the bottom of the steep section. I was cheered when I looked back and realised that it's signed as 1:5, but next time it'll be the Mercian with a triple.
I tried the Jordans route back for a change - I'm bored of Hedgerley Lane - but the first bit along the dualled A355 was no fun at all. A lorry driver, who must have seen me, tried to avoid slowing down and to dodge around me instead. That kind of thing doesn't really work in an artic when you're approaching a roundabout. Think it's Hedgerley again next time. Never mind :-\
Otherwise, good weather, good roads, cheery words from other riders, what's not to like? Oh, and lunch by the Thames, one of the best cafe stops on any Audax I know.
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A great day out on the Anfractuous. Took a right instead of left, ignored gps beeping as I could see the track below my little marker. realised when GPS said only 8km to finish that I'd gone the wrong way. Added 11km to the route plus 3 hills, I can think of worse mistakes and only 30 mins onto time anyway.
Sat chatting and eating with a couple of horse owners in Lambourne, lovely ladies and they seemed to know. a who's who of jockeys and owners. Marlow was busy but I did stop to eat next to a golden postbox.
Some long drags but nothing really steep. Ride with Teethgrinder for a section but he had no Jack Danials, so I pushed on :-)
Great weather still holding.
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At around 75km, just outside West IIsley, in the middle of nowhere, I came under the same planetary influence that George Berwick (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=24201.msg698422#msg698422) did on the HBKH in 2010. Although I'd emphasize right from the outset that how events ensued for me pales utterly into the background compared to the show stopper that George managed to pull off during that event. There is no comparison.
So, down tube breaks and inch from the headset [where they so often do] and now back to quiet leafy Compton. It's the nearest place. No, not much welding action round here, and I wasn't in the mood to start knocking on doors either. There is one shop though. Helpful lady gave me some double sided tape and a pair of sissors and I bought some utterly useless cheap brown selotape. So, into the bins to retreive two coke cans. Cut them up to use as sleeves and tried to zip-tie [had only a few of those] and tape some kind of repair together. I knew right from the word go that this was only going to be a 'get me home' strategy [if that] and most definitely not a 'carrying on' one. Considering what I had to play with, it wasn't too bad, but it only lasted about 7 km before the head tube popped out of the coke can sleeve and I was down to the top tube as my main structrual support. The tape was the problem. Cycling about 20km with the down tube completely detached from the headtube is unnerving. The utmost care was needed.
Managed to limp back to Henley, where things really came together. Got chatting to a couple of musicians who were loading gear into a van for an evening gig, and they gave me a big roll of British Racing Green Duct tape. Nice colour- never seen green gaffer before. So now, repair no 2: cut away old failed repair, tape tubes together first [they're now a couple of inches apart!], apply coke can sleeves with tape, tape more, find thick twig to act as a spine and more tape - and the next 50km were no problem at all.
Shame not to make it round, but I ended up doing 160km in the end, and got back just as the light was fading, so all is well.
Quite a big field out there today - biggest I've seen on the Anfractuous since I've been doing it.
Thanks to Manotea and all helpers.
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(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/10096740885_df7c5d11c2_o.jpg)
Good to see Team GdS (in those far flung corners of the South East, Michigan and Ventoux) flies the flag for Bucks' only qualifying ride since the sad demise of Hilly Chilterns;
another classic edition of this great ride; a true mix of everything. I personally didn't find the extra AAA section at all hard; and even reserved my granny ring for the Colstrope return;
many thanks Manotea and your willing band of helpers :thumbsup:
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(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3744/10112580283_921bee01b1_o.jpg)
Not quite a McNasty, but you still managed 50k with this bodge!
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What a lovely route that was!
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What nice jerseys you Hackney boys have got:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/10112525626_fa49d74fc1_o.jpg)
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Another great day for Anfractuous and Nyctophobic riders with a brief shower in the morning making way to a fine autumnal day. About 110 riders set out and when the dust settled 45 AAAnfractuous Brevets, 25 Less Anfractuous and 33 Nyctophobic Brevets will be validated. Like the old Anfractuous, the Nyctophobic is quite close to being a AAA event. Next year it will probably follow the AAAnfractuous route to Marlow, so watch out for NyctophobiAAA next year!
I had an easy albeit long day thanks to helping hands from Willesden riders Liam, Ian, Ray and Marcus, and Marcus came back later to help run the registration desk, a taste of glories yet to come. Special thanks though go to Caroline and John who saw the riders fed and watered on their return. It's a long haul when running the Arrivee on a 100 & 200 day, as we left home at midday and were not back until 11pm.
And for all you grizzled old road warriors, here's a picture of our youngest rider, age 7, signing her Nyctophobic Brevet. How cool is that!
(http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab2/paudax/Random%20Web%20Stuff/2013-10-05162509.jpg)
Alexandria was riding a tagalong with her father whilst her mother and elder brothe rode solo's. I suspect her father did most of the work. Well done dad!
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Like the old Anfractuous, the Nyctophobic is quite close to being a AAA event. Next year it will probably follow the AAAnfractuous route to Marlow, so watch out for the NyctophobiAAA!
that's good GdS news,
out of interest is there any extra climbing to be had by using Welders Lane rather than Hedgerley Green? we used the latter as I'm not a great fan of the M/A40 double roundabout on the official route
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out of interest is there any extra climbing to be had by using Welders Lane rather than Hedgerley Green? we used the latter as I'm not a great fan of the M/A40 double roundabout on the official route
Possibly but it's marginal. The Welders Lane route probably benefits as much in AAA terms by being shorter rather than hillier. It's always struck me as an unknown anomaly that the Nycto takes the Hedgerley Lane route home by default. That will change with the NyctophobiAAA which will take the Welders Lane route.
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Superbly organised as usual Manotea! Thanks very much to you and the team.
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Great event and route! Bit of everything - challenging hills, some long flat fast sections (mainly Lambourn to Pangbourne) to recover a bit from the hills, open farmlands, woodlands, lanes, b-roads. Thanks Paul and crew for a pleasant day out! Highly recommended ride I'd certainly return to if I can!
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out of interest is there any extra climbing to be had by using Welders Lane rather than Hedgerley Green? we used the latter as I'm not a great fan of the M/A40 double roundabout on the official route
Possibly but it's marginal. The Welders Lane route probably benefits as much in AAA terms by being shorter rather than hillier. It's always struck me as an unknown anomaly that the Nycto takes the Hedgerley Lane route home by default. That will change with the NyctophobiAAA which will take the Welders Lane route.
you could always use the Severn Across approach with an info (although that involves even more A40)
NyctophobiAAA;
I prefer Hilly Willy!
<pedant>
the Less Anfractuous is probably strictly speaking more
</pedant>
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Hedgerley Lane
I just use Hedgerley Lane as default whatever ride it is. Period.
Mainly because: at that point in the day, I'm very tired and have sometimes come close to being catapolted 12ft in the air because of the fact, & also, because it's no shorter in distance than the designated route, I sleep conscience-free. And I don't look to claim AAA points anyway if there is any loss in climbing.
It's a no brainer for me.
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Got chatting to a guy of South African origin called Justin up until Benson. He was doing his first Audax and came from a background of riding Sportives - [what a fitting addition to a Manotea ride, eh? :-) ] Our paths diverged at Benson and I didn't see him again because of frame issues and had to pack. But I'm curious to know if he got round ok?
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I commute reasonably regularly from London to Beaconsfield - I use Welder's Lane less and less these days due to having to play chicken too often by having to place myself in the centre of the lane to get a Buckinghamshire knobber in a wankpanzer to slow down to something reasonable to pass a bike. They just don't get how terrifying it is to have 2 tonnes of metal pass you at even 30 mph on a lane like that. I have no problem with any driver that slows down to 10-15mph.
The double roundabouts can be a little terrifying. There aren't many alternatives to it - well, legal ones anyway. You can hop through the Hall Barn Estate and over the footbridge - but it's a footpath - but it's a route I take to get to Beaconsfield often. You'd still have to tackle one of the roundabouts, unless you popped down into New Beaconsfield.
Hedgerley Lane is great, very unused by cars really - I use it pretty much all the time going in and out of Beacs these days.
Sadly that bit of Beaconsfield is really rather unfriendly on a bike, there's no provision at all, so it's all about riding on roundabouts and roads with drivers who are in motorway mentality.
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Has the season start/end date changed again ?
My two points for this seem to have been added to my 2013 total rather starting the ball rolling for the new season.
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Got chatting to a guy of South African origin called Justin up until Benson. He was doing his first Audax and came from a background of riding Sportives - [what a fitting addition to a Manotea ride, eh? :-) ] Our paths diverged at Benson and I didn't see him again because of frame issues and had to pack. But I'm curious to know if he got round ok?
That was Paul Gould; he packed at Wantage. He had time in hand but felt he didn't have the legs to carry on. I met Paul when I was marshelling the penultimate control on the Tour of the Hills. He was finding that event tough and did well to finish. Meanwhile, his Anfractuous dream lives on!
Has the season start/end date changed again ?
My two points for this seem to have been added to my 2013 total rather starting the ball rolling for the new season.
Dont worry pete, there is usually a hiatus around change of season time. Things will sort themselves out shortly.
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Got chatting to a guy of South African origin called Justin up until Benson. He was doing his first Audax and came from a background of riding Sportives - [what a fitting addition to a Manotea ride, eh? :-) ] Our paths diverged at Benson and I didn't see him again because of frame issues and had to pack. But I'm curious to know if he got round ok?
That was Paul Gould; he packed at Wantage. He had time in hand but felt he didn't have the legs to carry on. I met Paul when I was marshelling the penultimate control on the Tour of the Hills. He was finding that event tough and did well to finish. Meanwhile, his Anfractuous dream lives on!
Oh right, ok thanks. Shame. He was doing perfectly fine at Benson but curious to know what lay ahead.
[Not sure where I got 'Justin' from though?]
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This is a cracking ride! The new AAAnfracuous is Manotea's old Anfractuous with a bit of extra "goat-iness": the main addition being a run down into High (Low?) Wycombe and a stern climb out again, which neatly avoids the flatter rat run to Marlow. Plus the climb up Welders Lane at the end. I started the season in 2012 with an Essex run that felt to me like a ride through the mountainous bits of Wales, but a year of audax has moved my fitness on and, feeling adventurous after a AAA perm last weekend, I thought I'd start the new season with something a bit bigger. As an aside, Grimpeur d'Anglia d'Est isn't going to catch on any time soon and us flatlanders don't get to practise AAA that often, so it is a bit of novelty for us ::-)
Having collected my brevet from a cheery MarcusJB, we gathered in the morning gloom for an earlier-than-advertised start. A bit of joviality set in: "are you turning left or right?", with left being the AAA route and right being the Less(er). It's not a race, and you can't get extra points for being hillier-than-thou, except that you cAAAn ;)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/10115995056_ca839dc99d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115995056/) (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/10115994686_f7a6bbed95_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115994686/)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/10115951515_f26a56eb53_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115951515/) (http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/10115901824_ba1d15be6f_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115901824/)
A bit of lethargy in the legs of quicker riders and I find myself on the front of the fast-road run to the left-turn-and-start-climbing: safe in the knowledge that it's only a temporary situation and I'll be going backwards soon enough. My aims are simple: to ride up every climb to the top, and to finish during daylight, which is about 11.5 hours; I later amend the latter to riding at an overall average 20kph, which is about 10 hours 25 minutes. Starting quickly while I am able to means I should have a bit extra time in hand to throw at the climbs, which are going to be very very slow: with a 34-inch climbing gear, I am going to be with the fixies in terms of climbing technique on the bigger climbs. Sure enough, we turn left, drop down a little and then turn right and start to climb: at this point a group of riders pass and leave me to eat dust and leaves, but it's okay, that's in the plan.
There are three major controls on the ride, and numerous info controls on the four stages in between. The first leg to Benson has just the one significant climb out of High Wycombe; this leg includes the on-paper onerous climb up Christmas Common, but in reality it's just a long draggy climb, nothing too painful. The second leg to Wantage includes the attention-grabbing climb out of Streatley, which is a tough climb, and the rest of the leg feels flat by comparison. The third leg starts with a long 5-10% gradient with a long, fast drop off the back to Lambourn, and the rest of the leg is completely benign and on average downhill to Pangbourne. The final leg is the hardest leg, starting immediately with a stiff climb out of Pangbourne and includes several 10%+ gradients such as Fawley Hill and Colestrope Lane, with several shorter grimps worthy of mention, such as Welder's Lane.
After the first climb I found myself with James and Anthony and we bimbled along happily. James noted that it's only when he comes southwards that features called "grassy triangles" appear on the routesheet: apparently this is a southern thing. James stops to mark his brevet with the info at Penn, I take a photo-on-the-go for later and ride on, finding myself suddenly alongside somebody else. On the fast downhill from Penn I catch and pass a group – definitely gravity-assisted! before we turn left and right for another uphill. Inevitably I am caught, but 9.8ms-2 drags me off the front again on the descent down into High Wycombe (oxymorons abound) until the lights at the bottom. I lead the group to the bottom of the next climb and up it for, in a generous spirit, a good 20m before I am spat out the back: these Hackney goats attack in herds! I take a couple of photos to make it look like I intended to go backwards, but I know they know it's not true.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/10115992726_4df3cc8f60_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115992726/) (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/10115948775_b46f85bbf2_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115948775/" title=")
I grimp to the top with my HR hitting 177 – and that's on only the first serious climb of the day! As I get there James catches me up and we ride on together. It's nice to have company, as the last few rides have been DIYs or perms. A missed direction on the GPS before we get to Marlow and James again stops at the info control to mark his brevet and I again grab a photo-on-the-go and start the long climb up Christmas Common. I figure that if I make progress now, I will be caught later anyway, so no harm done. The first part of the climb winches up between steep banks in the way that many ancient roads do in these parts. The road surface is shocking and so I take my time. Eventually the gradient levels off a bit and I hit third gear (out of six) and settle down for a spinning session.
The weather is very pleasant for cycling in: it's overcast and the temperature is around 14ºC. Having moved the ride a few weeks earlier in the calendar, autumn hasn't made itself felt yet, so the views of forests – and there are a lot of forests in these parts – are picture-postcard Green and Pleasant Land. The ancient lanes that we are riding pass through many of the forests and inside the way is gloomy, like something out of a remake of Robin Hood, and the sides are steeply banked for some traditional purpose. It is truly gorgeous in a way that the Chilterns do so well.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/10116055273_b9f0f892e9_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10116055273/)
Occasionally on the climb I can see a glimpse of a bike light behind me, but they never quite catch up, go figure: not trying hard enough methinks. As I pass through Christmas Common a bit of drizzle starts. I curse as I realise I didn't bring a waterproof: the forecast said I didn't need one :facepalm: Never mind, it's only water. It doesn't last long anyway, but a reminder that we are now in autumn and a 'proof of some sort is required, just in case. When I get to Watlington, I decide it's time to put the hammer down a bit: I have a plate of beans with my name on it at the control and I want to be ahead of the queue. I pick a higher gear and get my race face on: it's gently downhill for much of the way, but the occasional uppy bit needs a push. I can't see anyone else behind me as I get to Benson and I get served immediately, it was worth it :smug: I bump into Pppete at the control: he rode the Less and got there a bit earlier, and we are joined by MattC, who's out for a ride, just not this one, and Lars.
Pppete and Lars leave before me, and I set off on a mission to catch them. I can see a rider that looks, from the rear, like it's Pppete, but as I close in, less so: I meet PhilW for the first time, and we chat to Goring. We compare tactical notes on Streatley Hill, which is the big climb of the day at 125m over 1.3km and getting steeper all the way up to 1:6 at the top. Phil's going for a low-gear spinning approach; I am going for a lowest-gear grind (34", remember?). When I rode my first AAA, Yr Elenydd, earlier this year, I would've had to have walked a good deal of this hill, but I threw everything at it and got to the top of Streatley in one go, yay ;D Phil has gained 100m on me and the "Green Love" rider (I'm not sure that's an accurate translation) has caught and passed me.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/10115897034_833e25aaaa_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115897034/) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/10115987236_091318e4c0_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115987236/)
We regroup a kilometre up the road and pass Pppete as it looks like he's fighting a bag of Jelly Babies; he quickly joins us. We pass Teethgrinder sat on a park bench in Compton tucking into a bottle of ginger beer by the look of it. We don't stop at the info control: somehow I forget to photograph it later, minor paranoia sets in as I try not to forget :facepalm: At some point I find myself unable to match the gear of the other two and I end up riding off the front of the group, expecting them to catch me on the next climb.
In West Isley I catch up with the Hackney Goats group, who stopped for something. I pace the group up the hill, but they're a shade slow for the gear I am turning so I leapfrog them on the climb. They pace me for a while, but get bored and I stretch out. We're near the control now, and again it's time to put in a burst to beat the queue. It's a very open run down into Wantage and I manage to stay clear out in the front, just getting caught by Green Love at a red light in Wantage. There's a large pile of bikes outside the control, but the queue isn't huge in the museum; however the guy at the front, a family man, appears to be ordering a 3-course dinner for ten, dish-by-dish, aaargh! By the time I do the control admin and eat a piece of cake, Pppete and PhilW have caught me up. We debate the difficulty of Streatley: I reckon it's not as hard as Llancloudy on the BCM, they reckon it's harder. On paper they're very similar, but I walked Llancloudy, I rode Streatley :) The wait for Mr Family Guy has cost me a few minutes and my overall average speed is slightly under my target 20kph.
Out of Wantage there's a long, steep, open drag and I can see groups of riders up the hill ahead of me. One of the riders looks suspiciously like Teethgrinder: you can tell by the panniers. I pick a low-low gear and settle in for 15 minutes of spinning. From the top it's a long gentle slope down to Lambourn. A quick snap of the info answer and I double back to a chippie that's still open: this grimping requires a decent amount of input! The rest of the leg to Pangbourne is relatively benign with just a couple of short climbs, but the scenery is very lovely and the roads are quiet. I catch up with Teethgrinder again, as he'd passed me when I stopped for chips. We pretty much pace each other, as he is having a leisurely day on the bike: I have no doubt that when he starts grinding teeth properly then I won't be pacing him!
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/10116052333_aef95a96aa_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10116052333/)
TG's being so leisurely I ride off the front, pass a group of riders who turned left on the downhill before the easy-to-miss left on the routesheet: if it's easy to miss then that really obvious left should be the wrong one, no? :P I lead by example and turn left at the not-so-obvious left and ride on to Pangbourne, where I think I spot Sir Wobbly at the pub? I grab a sticker and some milk from Henry's. From Pangbourne, the real climb-after-climb section starts with a stiff one up the valley. I grind my way to the top with quite a few riders passing me: I am both tired and over-geared. To cheer myself up, I take a couple of photos, make it look like I am slow with a purpose :facepalm:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/10115893044_3375c8cf22_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115893044/) (http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/10116050793_f433743c7d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10116050793/)
I catch up with TG again – he really is taking it easy! – and we ride together for a bit, me leapfrogging him when the gradient is exactly right for me, and he riding ahead the rest/most of the time. At Fawley Hill, the first of the steepety-steep climbs, TG grimps ahead out of sight and the next flattish section isn't long enough for me to catch up with him again. I won't see him again until arrivée. I am now on my own. I keep looking behind to watch for the next rider to pass me, but by now all the quicker riders are ahead and all the slower riders are behind, so I am in a world of my own. It's very peaceful in the lanes, the weather having brightened somewhat from earlier and autumn hasn't quite caught hold, absolutely lovely! I don't mind the solitude.
After a steep, brake-wearing descent, and a right-at-T, I arrive at the bottom of Colestrope Lane. On paper this climb is a bit of a git, and I take heed of Sir Wobbly's wobbly-related comment on this hill, up-thread. It's 103m over 1.5km, so on paper it's less difficult than Streatley, but most of the elevation gain is in the last 500m, making this an absolute brute. I settle in for a 5kph grimp that should take about 15 minutes, so long as I can keep rotating the pedals. The start is benign enough and gradually steepens before levelling off a little. The road itself is enclosed in another woodland, not so ancient this one, but deciduous rather than a Welsh or Scottish ever-green variety, so really lovely and mysterious. Just past the new, modern-style construction on the left, the road ramps up and I am honking out of the saddle, and then back down as the front wheel starts to lift. This is really hard. The back wheel is starting to slip on the wet patches, I am wobbling all over the place and my speed is now hovering around 3kph. I can hear a motor behind me, but. I. Am. Going. To. Make. It. To. The. Top! I pull into a passing place and let the white van past without putting a foot down and continue grinding. I can hear a bigger engine behind me now: a big Range Rover. I shake my head: I am not going to give up this hill for some Chelsea tractor. Eventually the gradient eases, we've reached the top and another passing place, and as I inch across to it and wave the RR through, I lose control on the dirt and have to unclip: my only foot-down all day! They refuse to pass me, so I clip back in and ride on: they immediately pull in to the farm next to where I'd waved them through. Bugger. Still, the phone box at the top is a pleasant sight: you don't see too many of those these days, a lovely homage to another time. Probably doesn't work.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/10115937565_1a83ddbf8e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115937565/)
After this I drop back down to Marlow, right and over the Thames, before left and a stern climb up Quarry Wood Hill: the gradient isn't really that much until you get to the hairpin and at the apex it's tremendously steep, so I follow the centreline around the corner: I'm lit up like a Christmas tree and it is an allowed manoeuvre, but there aren't any cars around anyway. It's getting a bit dull riding on my own now, so I take a picture of the hill and another of today's "office" :facepalm:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/10116049143_b475f6f21b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10116049143/) (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2844/10115939635_65ee22cecd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115939635/)
A quick stop at the top to double-check the info control question and it's a fast descent back down to the Thames on the other side of the hill, snapping the info control on the way past. Then a main-road drag out of Cookham, before turning right up Hedsor road towards Harvest Hill. At this point the road is completely blocked with cars to the point I can't even squeeze the bike through: gridlock. The whole thing caused because some 18-year-old demanded that he had right of way and absolutely refused to go backwards, didn't understand the word "gridlock", and couldn't see that the quickest solution for himself was for him to reverse. And then started mocking my bike: from a spotty oik in a Nissan Micra that was taking the biscwit :facepalm: Worse, his dad appeared to be standing behind his son's car in shame, trying to not get involved: yoof of today? Or just a random twat? I eventually found the necessary gap and rode on up the hill, the adrenalin putting a massive grin on my face as I honked up Harvest Hill and considered all the retorts I should've used had my wits been quicker (choice insults really aren't my thing).
Now at the top there are only a couple of iddy-biddy climbs left, so when the route spits us out onto the busy A355 over the M40 and then right onto the A40, I don't feel the need to hold anything back and time trial with the traffic. All the cars pull over into the outside lane to pass and I dare the cars on the roundabout to pull out in front of me. Left towards Jordans and then a bit of a lump right up Welder's Lane and we are spat out at the top of Chalfont, giving us a nice, fast descent into Chalfont St Peter. Left, left, left, left and left again and here we are at arrivée! :)
So, how did I do? 10 hours 45 minutes – 20 minutes outside my own 20kph target time: I lost time at the museum control with the queue, at Henry's when I put the water in before the protein powder (and it just takes ages to get the powder into a full bottle of water) and the final stage was about 1kph slower than target, boo! But I am very pleased with that, because it's still a respectable time for me, and it was very much daylight when I finished :thumbsup:
That was a fantastic day on the bike and I really enjoyed it! The route was intricate enough to be interesting all the time, yet not so intricate you got lost. The terrain and scenery were lovely. The climbs were hard and very satisfying. And best of all I didn't have to drive very far to take part, so was home in time for supper ;D
The negative result from this self-harm we call audax is a significant Achille's creaking and soreness, so I may be off the bike for a week or three.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/10115979496_8bd480ac30_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115979496/)
A couple of heros at the finish: the chap on the left rode is Jeremy who rode his 1952 bicycle around The AAAnfractuous, dressed like he was when he bought it (although I am not sure clip-in pedals were around at that time, and possibly neither was he), and the chap zigzag standing on the right apparently rode the AAA in 8.5 hours FIXED SINGLESPEED!! (The chap in the middle was tired, but clearly still a hero of sorts.) Edit: the chap in the middle is Von Broad of broken-frame fame, so truly another hero!!
Thank you Paul for putting the event on – I will definitely be looking at riding it again next year. Thank you Marcus for being cheery both ends of the day with the brevets. And thank you the two in the kitchen who gamely debated the relative merits of bacon butty versus cheese toasty with me at the end ;)
Edit: removed the info control answers after an elbow in the ribs from another organiser; apparently they don't always change every year (this is still my first 12 months so I didn't know, sorry).
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Impressed with the number of pictures you took. The chap in the middle was Von Broad of broken frame fame. I was sat chatting to him for a while, whilst I ate my lovely bacon butty and my tea. I'd left by the time you came in. I finished at 5:25pm, put the bike on the rack on the car, changed into my sandals, had a drink , picked up a change of clothes then wandered over to Arrivee to complete formalities.
Teethgrinder rode to the start and was riding home, so something around 200 miles for him I think he said. Nice day for 300km.
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I baggsie Lanterne Rouge.
I, together with Luke & Peter were last home possibly at 9:15pm. That's 13h 15min after managing 8h 10min last year. How times change.
My excuse was 3 punctures early on and a visit to the LBS in High wycombe to purchase a new tyre. Got going after that and the benifits of no queues at the controls. Unfortunatly I had spent all my money on the tyre and had limited funds or time. Five hours different though!!!! :'(
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Impressed with the number of pictures you took. The chap in the middle was Von Broad of broken frame fame. I was sat chatting to him for a while, whilst I ate my lovely bacon butty and my tea. I'd left by the time you came in. I finished at 5:25pm, put the bike on the rack on the car, changed into my sandals, had a drink , picked up a change of clothes then wandered over to Arrivee to complete formalities.
Teethgrinder rode to the start and was riding home, so something around 200 miles for him I think he said. Nice day for 300km.
Noted on Von Broad, post updated to reflect hero status :thumbsup:
It was good to ride with you, Phil.
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Phil has gained 100m on me and the "Green Love" rider (I'm not sure that's an accurate translation) has caught and passed me.
Green Love somehow sounds so much better, but I'm afraid Groene Leeuw means "Green Lion".
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Got chatting to a guy of South African origin called Justin up until Benson. He was doing his first Audax and came from a background of riding Sportives - [what a fitting addition to a Manotea ride, eh? :-) ] Our paths diverged at Benson and I didn't see him again because of frame issues and had to pack. But I'm curious to know if he got round ok?
That was Paul Gould; he packed at Wantage. He had time in hand but felt he didn't have the legs to carry on. I met Paul when I was marshelling the penultimate control on the Tour of the Hills. He was finding that event tough and did well to finish. Meanwhile, his Anfractuous dream lives on!
Oh right, ok thanks. Shame. He was doing perfectly fine at Benson but curious to know what lay ahead.
[Not sure where I got 'Justin' from though?]
Could well have been a Justin - it wasn't me - I did pack it in at Wantage though - I hit a really bad patch just after Compton and (probably a bit prematurely) decided it was not going to be my day, deciding to have a leisurely ride back home to Reading instead.
Maqny thanks to Paul for putting on a great event - I will be back!!!
Paul Gould
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Phil has gained 100m on me and the "Green Love" rider (I'm not sure that's an accurate translation) has caught and passed me.
Green Love somehow sounds so much better, but I'm afraid Groene Leeuw means "Green Lion".
Thanks ;D
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Thanks for the great ride report Wilkyboy. I'm glad you enjoyed the day.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/10115979496_8bd480ac30_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115979496/)
The other hero in shot is Zigzag, who was first home on the AAAnfractuous riding a very nice carbon singlespeed bike. For those that don't know, Zigzag rode Mike Hall's unsupported race from London to Istanbul this summer. A free route with just two controls, one at least of which was on top of a mountain. Zigzag completed the route in 11 days coming in 6th place, but winning a special prize for the longest route - a new pair of tyres!
As you can see, Zigzag is so fast that even in repose not even the camera can catch him!
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big thanks to Manotea and his support crew for putting on this event. i had a great day out (if a bit lonely), chose my ss bike (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d4-4nGTktWE/UaHuCVCkYVI/AAAAAAAAC5k/-9V2SUteGDI/s640/IMG_0107.jpg) for a better workout. compared to last years' anfractuous this aaa version had 400m extra climbing and was 6km longer, so took 14min extra to complete. rode with ekimeno for the first hour or so, then on my own the rest of the way until colstrope lane where i walked the top third of the hill together with swisshat (it's the first hill ever that i walked since i took up cycling years ago :D, but having mainly ridden gears before hills were never a problem). rode back home as well making it to 266km for the day.
it was the last audax for me this year as i'll be having elbow surgery done in november and rehab-ing afterwards.
strava (http://app.strava.com/activities/87120842) fwiw
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The other hero in shot is Zigzag, who was first home on the AAAnfractuous riding a very nice carbon singlespeed bike.
Thanks. I thought I recognised zigzag, but not his bike: I rode back from the pub with him the night before BCM and he was riding a seven-speed double then, IIRC (I know it's not about the bike, but so often, with ageing memories, it is! :facepalm:) Post updated.
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Big thanks to the organiser and all of the helpers - really nice route and very well put together. Some beautiful scenery when I could lift my head to look at it :)
I've not been on the bike much recently and that, coupled with leaving at 8 on on the AAA was probably a mistake as I didn't get back until after dark; but a lesson learned for next year. Although it did mean I got to ride some of the wooded sections in total darkness, I have good lights so although it was fun, it was mixed with mild panic as I recalled every horror film I'd ever seen involving lonely people in the woods.................
One big advantage of riding in the dark is you can't see the top of the climbs, so all you can do is keep pedaling ;D
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What nice jerseys you Hackney boys have got:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/10112525626_fa49d74fc1_o.jpg)
I thought Jordan and the boys were out on a stag do...
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Thanks for organising this Paul. I did the Nycto - my first ever 100. I had to be back in town by 6 and didnt fancy my chances on any of the 200 rides. I was foolish in assuming I'd get round this in no time as its 'just' a 100 - thought it would be just like a 60 mile training ride - but I was so wrong! My legs yesterday felt like I'd done at least twice that. Seldom has a pint of beer tasted better or than the one I had on Saturday evening.
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(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/10115979496_8bd480ac30_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilky/10115979496/)
The one on the left is Jeremy. We rode together quite a bit on The Beast from the East 600, which he rode on a similar bike. He also completed PBP.
And it was Ginger Beer I was drinking, while eating my bacon rolls. Not sure I was taking it that easy. The mountain bike is a bit slow but the rough descents were good fun.
No Jack Daniels on this ride. It was only a 200. :(
I did have a snooze in a field on the way home because I was getting a bit dozy. I managed 206 miles alltogether, went to bed, then set off for a very slow 70 mile ride with another bunch.
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Rather humbly, I was a complete failure on this ride. I would post my gpx track, but it extended from the front of the community centre to before the main road as you leave the hall. It has been deleted as an aberation in any case. I reckon I covered 20 metres, at a stretch. The first ride I could perhaps write a report on pedal stroke by pedal stroke and still not have enough to fill a paragraph.
A ride in Wales in mid-September (and a laziness on my part that meant I didn't strip the bike down after the ride, but instead rode another few events) completely disintegrated my front chainring, but had buggered the chain at the same time. These cancelled each other out until I changed the chain the night before Paul's ride. Cue absolutely no catch in the drivetrain. Reading about some of the proper mechanicals experienced and overcome on the ride, I should be ashamed. But actually I'm rather pleased I didn't flog myself round the course on the big ring (which was a possibility, as it was just about holding). It made me realise that, in fact, I was over the 2013 season and all the faux competitive shite that goes with chasing chunky AAA and distance point targets.
It also helped me identify (on sorting out the mechanical) that my lowest gear wasn't 34/28 as I had thought all through the 2013 season. It was 34/26. So I've wimped up the ratio to what I thought it was, with a new cassette, in the hope that I won't get so cream crackered on climbs. Silver linings and all that.
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You rode all those AAA points on 34/26 and your knees lived to tell the tale??
I'll keep my super wimpy 28/28 thanks :p
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Hello Boys and Girls, we're back! Yes its the AAAnfractuous, Less Anfractuous and Nyctophobic Triple Bill!
Click the map for more info...
(http://events.paudax.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/AAN_logo33.jpg) (http://events.paudax.com/)
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I cant believe its been 5-years since I last rode this event, so planning on doing (The Less Anfractuous) again this year. Just booked accommodation at Beaconsfield Travelodge, so will be entering soon.
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There's one to look forward to :thumbsup:
I've always done the Nyctophobic so far. Colstrope Lane beat me last time. Revenge match due...
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AAAnfractuous for me :)
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After enjoying the Less Anfractuous last year, have signed up for the AAAnfractuous this time ;D
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I'm in for the AAA ride. Looking forward to it again. First AAA ride since the Welsh 1000 km ride
Joolz :)
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Unless anything unforeseeable happens will do the AAA version just like last year.
Would be a shame not to!
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For my sins, I will route-check the ride - I look forward to my annual appointment with Colstrope Lane......
This ride will always hold a special place in my heart - it was my first ever 200 and when I first heard mutterings about this ride in France (1200km! On a bike! These people really are insane! I'm not doing one of these Audax things again).
I suspect I may be present on the day at some point pouring tea or whatever.
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AAAnfractuous for me ;D
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Route check done on a very lovely day - about 270km on the clock with out and back.
I am really disappointed to let everyone know that all those nasty little hills are still bloody there!
I hope you all have gentle weather in a couple of weeks - pretty perfect day today apart from a bit of nagging wind.
I won't even be there to pour tea/make toasties/throw around abuse as we're going away that weekend now. But I am sure you'll still have fun!
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Sadly at work on that Saturday :(
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Last time I tried Colstrop I couldn't get my cleats out so ended up riding down some blokes' drive about half way up. He wasn't very happy.
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Entered the AAA. Fantastic ride, though a bit hard - all the hills packed into the last 50k are evil.
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Belatedly got round to entering the Nyctophobic. Sorry Paul!
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I’m looking doubtful for this after spraining my foot playing football last night. I’ll leave it until tomorrow to decide as it may improve but I don’t think a hilly 200k will be what it needs.
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Just double checking this is 8am start?
That's what it says on the Audax page, but just talking to a friend that did it last year - he tells me it started at 7:30am to make the most of the light. He didn't know, and actually ended up getting there a bit late for 8am start, and actually started at 8:10. ::-)
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Is it possible you or your friend are thinking of the Upper Thames which starts at 07:30 (and which runs after the clocks have gone back).
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Is it possible you or your friend are thinking of the Upper Thames which starts at 07:30 (and which runs after the clocks have gone back).
Every possibility. I think his mind is still buzzing from having spent two weeks in the Alps on classic TdF routes. ::-)
But he did do this one last year, and is this year too, so if he aims for 7:30 start, then he's got a good chance of making the genuine 8am start!
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It's looking like I will be a DNF now due the fact that I have been persuaded to tow someone round a perm route tomorrow, and two 200's in two days might be a tad too much for me at the moment.
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Its looking like its going to be a bit wet on Saturday :'(. This means I'll need to bodge a least a front mudguard <sigh>
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Its looking like its going to be a bit wet on Saturday :'(. This means I'll need to bodge a least a front mudguard <sigh>
Mmm... Leaf Skogg. Niiiice! Anfractuoustastic. Or something.
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Its looking like its going to be a bit wet on Saturday :'(. This means I'll need to bodge a least a front mudguard <sigh>
Mmm... Leaf Skogg. Niiiice! Anfractuoustastic. Or something.
Now it's a month earlier than it used to be, there's not that mu(l)ch skog on the lanes - first time I did it, I remember it being really awful and losing traction on the climbs quite a bit.
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Its looking like its going to be a bit wet on Saturday :'(. This means I'll need to bodge a least a front mudguard <sigh>
Mmm... Leaf Skogg. Niiiice! Anfractuoustastic. Or something.
Now it's a month earlier than it used to be, there's not that mu(l)ch skog on the lanes - first time I did it, I remember it being really awful and losing traction on the climbs quite a bit.
Although this year, there is something of a drought, so I'm told, and a lot of the trees have gone "Ahh Fuckit - there's always next year." and have dumped their stuff. Not to mention the Ash trees who have all gone "Ugh. Die Back. I'm a gonna!" and dumped their stuff. Perhaps that hasn't reached you guys yet.
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It's still July here.
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I admire the way the organizer gives those of a nervous disposition a generous cut-off time to watch the weather/enroll for the ride. :) I am, forever, fair-weather.
[Looking at the forecast] I'm no stranger to looking out of the window, pulling the duvet back over me and thinking "forget it, never ever in a million", but I want to 'come back' and I need to start somewhere.
Goodness sake, it's hardly freezing is it?
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Mudguards now bodged onto the bike. Just have to find my snorkel and flippers now.
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Well I did the 100km version today, was a bit damp, cleared up nicely just as we rolled into the Arivee :) Thanks to Drossall for you company today & for stopping in the pouring rain whilst I fixed a puncture. Nearly made it up Cplstrope Lane, theres always next time.
Thanks to Paul for organising
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And thanks to Simon-R, who waited at the top of every hill.
I can get up hills. It's just that, by the time I do, everyone else has usually gone home for dinner :-[
Really enjoyed today's swim though.
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Thanks Manotea for putting on another excellent edition of these rides, conditions were challenging for a couple of hours but cleared up nicely in the afternoon.
A slightly reduced field for the start, maybe the weather forecast kept a few away. I rode alone pretty much from the start until the first control but found a few riders on my wheel just before Benson, including my old compadre PAC. The rain had started so we pushed on together with another DParagon rider. It was too wet to follow wheels so I let them go, Streatley Hill was as tough as ever and the weather got worse - cold, wet and windy. Crossing the Ridgeway marked a low point and arriving at Wantage 95km in I was contemplating a train home. Met PAC again at the control and a trickle of soggy riders arrived as we finished lunch, waited for a group including Ekimeno and others to leave together, then promptly lost them - sorry mate, what happened to you?
The next section was immeasurably better, a lovely route in improving conditions and plenty to catch up on with PAC. In no time we were back in Pangbourne and the friendly cafe there used for so many other rides round here. Whitchurch Hill was another drag and the legs were getting a little heavy. Not long after PAC turned left to complete the AAA course whereas I sensibly chose the flatter, lesser Anfractuous route. A quick run through Henley and Marlow and then the short climb back up the Chiltern ridge, onwards through Beaconsfield and shortly after the arrivee a shade before 5pm. No bikes outside but the kid's disco was mercifully coming to a close. Good to catch up with Manotea, and with a few returning riders - looks like those lanes at the end of the AAA ride deflated a few tyres so i'm glad to have avoided that too. All in all, a fine day out to kick off the new season.
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Ha - you disappeared up the first hill out of Wantage, but not to worry, we trucked along at our own pace in the rain.
Despite it being my slowest Anfractuous ever I had a really good time with some excellent company including cygnet once again and the Paragon blue train including Adrian (don't know his forum name)... We bounced both the Benson and Wantage controls and opted for a stop in Lambourn. Some local guy gave us advice to try the Plough a fe miles down the road on the route we were taking and I so glad we stopped there - one of the finest pubs in the county with excellent service and sandwiches to die for, plus they had a radiator for us to dry our clothes on.
The AAA course cygnet and I did was tough - no doubt, but I was in a happy place today - stomping out the climbs without much agony. We finished around 7pm in the end after another puncture and 2 x lunch stops (we lounged around in Pangbourne too), and the temperature had dropped considerably. On my ride back home to West London, I unfortunately came off the bike on a little country lane with roadworks. Just a scuffed knee, but more importantly, the bike is fine.
4th Anfractuous in row and still love it. How about an anti-clockwise version next year Paul?! Might be a bit testing on the brake pads and nerves down some of those killer hills...
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Thanks to Manotea for organising (including the sleep-over), and ekimeno for dragging me up half the hills/waiting at the top of the other half.
RRtY completed :thumbsup:
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First 200 in two years. Mostly definitely unfit, carrying the residue of beer drinking made the AAA Anfractuous for me = basically a brute. There was plenty of beauty out there today as well though, most notably after Wantage when the rain stopped. Then the sun gradually started to make an appearance. Nice.
One memorable moment for me was, after an agreeable start to the day weather wise, coming into Marlow, still warm and pleasant, loomed this massive ominous dark sky. "What? I've here, in this situation, voluntarily and have chosen to cycle into that? Are we all nuts?" Both are true. For those who knew the forecast before hand, it was hardly a surprise, so no good voicing complaint about it. Settling into for a few hours made people very wet and weary. I was feeling a worryingly fragile and kind of teetering a bit at Wantage, realizing what I'd let myself in for, so stayed there a while. Had a brief and rather poignant chat with Pete Turnball who was telling me about some of the events he's been living through recently.
Today did confirm one thing I already knew though - if I want to do anything bigger next year, I'm going to have to put some time and work into the project. I can't rely on all the reserves banked from a few years ago. Blimey it's only a 200km [see all those experienced Audax eyes rolling]. But boy, it felt like a bit more than that at times out there today. Still, this is what it feels like when you return after absence.
Nice to see some familiar friendly faces, LiamF, Zoom and Joolz and loads of people I haddn't seen before, including LMT who posts here, a Metabike recumbent man from London. He did the Flatlands 600km before this! Put in a decent show.
Not everybody agreed with me, but some of the lanes are getting so broken up, it's no fun at all. Precarious in places, particularly on some of those descents.
Thanks to Manotea once again, and Ellena for providing something savoury to eat at the end of the ride. Savoury hits the spot every time.
Onwards and sideways.
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That was quite tough! Made a couple of stupid mistakes. Only brought flimsy about to fall apart
Gore-Tex overshoes. Should have brought the thick winter thermo ones. And no buff to wear
under the helmet to stay warm and to stop salt and water from the helmet's sweatband drop
into the eyes. The result was feet completely soaked and severe eye discomfort and quite cold
for the bulk of the ride. Ended up 90 minutes slower than last year when I cruised around in 10 hours.
Maybe lingered a bit longer in Benson and Pangbourne cafe controls, but who cares. Interesting
how quickly a cold and damp fog developed at dusk when temps quickly fell to below 10C and the
ground was still soggy from the earlier rains. Was rather unpleasant in some places where it was
extra thick.
Still enjoyed the ride, great event and route. Third time doing it. Several challenging climbs but
nothing over the top, really, makes it a very good route. Convenient also with the overnight stay
in the hall. Stuffed sleeping bag plus mat in a backpack, took train to Welwyn Fri night, and rode 40k over
to Ch St P. Much nicer than going into King's Cross, riding to Marylebone in Friday traffic and take
the train to Gerrard's Cross. Had planned to do the same going back, but was too cold and knackered! :)
And finally the Pangbourne Bridge is fixed! So no more bridge trolls preying on bikers! :thumbsup:
Thanks to Paul for organising and for the TLC at the finish. The bacon sandwich and a coupla cuppas
were nice indeed!
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A few days late but this was a ride that started in the AUK summer season and finished in the winter :o
I left a balmy That London at 0600 in just shorts and a jersey (with showerproof for the predicted rain in my back pocket)
nice cofffee / noms at the start thanks to LiamF and general catching up and soon we were in the Leftfield group who turned out of the hall for the AAA version;
I didn't find the new hilly section at the start that bad (even the BCM YH -esque maneouvre in Wycombe) but of course with this ride there are many delights kept back for the finish (having always done the Colstrope route even in pre-AAA days)
the stair rod rain arrived just before Marlow and continued through Benson (where the mass chattering of teeth formed an avant - garde orchestra)
riding with Joolz Ann Ppete and Maggie (who put us to shame up most of the hills including Streatley where a TT was going on!) the rain sort of petered out by Wantage, where my reverse Trinny and Suzannah moment (what to wear!) was corrected by a £3 Giordana long sleeve jersey from the charity shop; it was to save my life later :thumbsup:
the sun came up after that but it certianly didn't do much to warm us and as it descended round about Fawley Bottom it turned very chilly indeed; which was when the Fairy decided to visit (having fixed one of Joolz' on the way up the Ridgeway)
First Ann's front which also succombed to a duff new tube, then my rear just after the ad hoc diversion, and then Ann's rear in Cookham. By now we were out of spares so it was 20k riding on the rim to arrive back with 30 mins to spare
Thanks Manotea and helpers; hope for warmer weather on the Willy Warmer :)
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A great, if a little damp, ride. Certainly by Benson my shoes had filled with water and I was regretting taking off my base layer whilst getting ready for the start. This was my first AAA route and the only hill that defeated me was Colsthorpe lane, and then only because my front wheel kept lifting and skidding so eventually I got off rather than fall off. Just after a car came down the hill which would have caused problems anyways as there just wasn't room for a car and me wobbling all over the road. I kept seeing the same faces throughout the ride and I think I ended up riding back from Marlow with a group including Joolz but three of us got detached from the rest in Gerards cross and were kindly rescued by Pete and Maggie(?) who led us back to the arrivee finishing around 9pm.
The bodged mudguards worked well although the front one had a tendency to bang against the downtube at certain vibrations which was annoying. Still, it will keep me on the road until my new mudguard friendly custom frame arrives later this year.
My biggest 'moment' of the day was speeding downhill, applying brakes and not a lot happening. Definitely kept my speed down on all descents afterwards.
Has an interesting moment after Pangbourne where I was passing a local on a mountain bike. Just before I got level with him and without any warning he turn right. He fell off but was undamaged and I learned how much I can lean on the bike in an emergency situation.
Definitely many thanks to the organiser and certainly one for the calendar next year.
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Here's my little write up for the bored or curious:
http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780 (http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780)
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Thanks again to Paul for organising this and especially the tips at the start about the hills to watch out for as a fellow fixed rider (my first AAA on the cog), though he seemed to take some pleasure at the finish in making me enumerate the number of times I gave up and walked (4 for the record).
A clear round is something to aim for next year, though I would probably gear down from 48x17, and a switch to tubeless might save me from the visitation that meant that I couldn't unscrew the pump without the new tube's valve core coming out, so rode the last 30km with part of the pump attached to the rear wheel.
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I'm trying to get my head round the idea of going up Colestrope and other hills on 48*17 :hand:
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three of us got detached from the rest in Gerards cross and were kindly rescued by Pete and Maggie(?) who led us back to the arrivee finishing around 9pm.
Yup that was us, knew exactly where we going .... NOT !
Thought we'd still have a bit of light and be able to follow the routesheet version so put that in the Garmin. Took far longer than we estimated so went for the 'after dark' A40 version, and told the GPS to take us back to the start. Ignored its first couple of attempts to turn us off up the hill on more skoggy lanes and finally went left on Bulstrode Rd (by the BP garage) to cut the corner on quiet suburban streets and joined up with you as we rejoined on Manotea's official version. Rarely trust the unit to follow it's own thinking but, combined with dim memories from last year (when I'd programmed that in) it worked out it OK in the end.
Rode some of the time with Martin, Ann & Joolz, but don't know how we missed you in Cookham, we still had tubes, having only had the one visitation.
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I think the Nycto and Willy Warmer do it anyway but I always use Hedgerley Green to get back to CSP on Manotea's events (and also Severn Across) an easy blat parallel to the M40 with a little rise up to get back into GX; avoids all that A40 roundabout malarkey and especially Welders Lane which seems to be a rat run between 1900-2000
(short URL is bust :()
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Burnham+Rd&daddr=51.5833793,-0.5944891+to:Gerrards+Cross&hl=en&ll=51.584323,-0.594292&spn=0.052585,0.109692&sll=51.618017,-0.703125&sspn=162.094872,89.296875&geocode=FRIzEwMdHF72_w%3BFZMZEwMdx-32_ym7TW-zw2V2SDF0bvFtsFzldQ%3BFZoVEwMdRH73_ynpvq8UimV2SDGQ9z3vP2x1JA&oq=a355&mra=ls&via=1&t=m&z=13
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Here's my little write up for the bored or curious:
http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780 (http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780)
8 hrs? What took you so long? :o
Starting at 8.30, you must have passed the whole field to finish in that time lol
Actually I do rememebr one bloke storming past me and thinking "cricky, he's going at a fair old pace!" Now I know who it most likely was.
8 hrs? Respect.
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Here's my little write up for the bored or curious:
http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780 (http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780)
I was the chap in red.... :thumbsup:I was mightily impressed that I'd managed to get ahead of you in the Chilterns until I found out you had a puncture before you came passed me, then I passed you & then you passed me whilst I changed a tube with a holly bush pricking me in the a@#e ::-)
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Here's my little write up for the bored or curious:
http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780 (http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780)
8 hrs? What took you so long? :o
Obviously I blame the bike. :)
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Here's my little write up for the bored or curious:
http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780 (http://www.thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1780)
I was the chap in red.... :thumbsup:I was mightily impressed that I'd managed to get ahead of you in the Chilterns until I found out you had a puncture before you came passed me, then I passed you & then you passed me whilst I changed a tube with a holly bush pricking me in the a@#e ::-)
Good to pass meet you ;)
We'll have to do it again some time without the p_nct_res.
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Yes, it's hard to believe but it's almost time for...
(http://events.paudax.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/AAN_logo33.jpg) (http://events.paudax.com/anf)
Same gig as last year, a 100km Nyctophobic and a 200km Anfractuous, with or without added hills.
Usual boozy sleepover at Chalfont St Peter complete with 'No Mod Cons'. Whats not to like. :)
Click on the picture for more info. Be seeing you!
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My first ever 200km event, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Sadly DNS for this edition (only the second time since I started riding Audax I think) as I am away then.
Manotea - if you need any routechecking assistance, PM me.
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The People of Didcot are miffed. You have quite clearly added a gratuitous Info Control for NO REASON except to steer people away from The Jewel of South Oxfordshire.
Just look at the pointless detour riders are forced to make down to something called "Streatley Hill", when they could be dining at the Didcot Subway.
Bah.
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I've pencilled this in but there's a 30mi TT on the same day I was going to have a crack at (my first 30, so a PB almost certain :) ).
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The People of Didcot are miffed. You have quite clearly added a gratuitous Info Control for NO REASON except to steer people away from The Jewel of South Oxfordshire.
Just look at the pointless detour riders are forced to make down to something called "Streatley Hill", when they could be dining at the Didcot Subway.
Bah.
Well, there's a comforting thought as you're about to throw up a lung on Streatley - "at least this is better being than Didcot"
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Dammit. Having said (regretfully) that I couldn't ride this any more because of the hateful traffic, I find myself (a) with a non-conflicting weekend and (3) of a mind to give it a go.
In my formative years (audax-wise), it was my favourite ride.
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AAA version for me :) (It always was anyway; the extra hilly bit at the start is a mere trifle compared to the other notable bits of UP)
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I'm tempted. I don't really have the legs for the AAA, but that's the one I'd ride anyway, as clearly I need the practice. I think I'd definitely have to
flip swap my wheel for the hill-climber I used in 2013. And the aim for me would be to climb Colstrope Lane in less than the 20 minutes for 1.5km it took me last time :facepalm:
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There is a free bacon sandwich for every fixer who makes a 'clear round' (no foot faults on the hills) pushing 70".
Not that I ever have. Well, not on the same ride, anyway ;)
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Route checking it this weekend. I am not expecting to be in a position to claim the bacon butty! I suspect there will be a couple of little walks, especially if the rain continues.
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Route checking it this weekend. I am not expecting to be in a position to claim the bacon butty! I suspect there will be a couple of little walks, especially if the rain continues.
Sunshine next few days, no excuses now, keep the feet on the pedals.
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Indeed I will have to fall back on other excuses as the weather is amazing today. Cold start but very very nice and I really hope the riders get something even half as nice a day, cos it is fabulous.
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Bacon butty opportunity lost. Streatley Hill. There's that driveway about 2/3 up that you can swing into for a few seconds respite, it does then ease fairly soon afterwards. I always see that as the point where you have cracked the hill.
'I can make it to the drive way', 'I might make it to the drive way', 'bugger'.
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Bacon butty opportunity lost. Streatley Hill. There's that driveway about 2/3 up that you can swing into for a few seconds respite, it does then ease fairly soon afterwards. I always see that as the point where you have cracked the hill.
'I can make it to the drive way', 'I might make it to the drive way', 'bugger'.
;D
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if not streatley, then colstrope lane would have been a walker on this ride (the first hill ever that i had to walk on ss)
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Cold start but very very nice and I really hope the riders get something even half as nice a day, cos it is fabulous.
Think you're due one Marcus after the 7A route check last year.
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I've gone for the Nyctophobic as usual. Thinks: suppose I could try for Colstrope Lane on a trike :-\
Or not.
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For fixers, I reckon Fawley Bottom is the one. Streatly and Colstrope are straightforward grimps, all about managing yourself through the climb, but Fawley is something else. A swooping sharp right turn takes you straight into the steepest part of the climb with no momentum to keep you going. There is nothing for it but total eyeballs out commitment, secure in the knowledge that if you put a foot down you'll be walking all the way to the top because it's too steep to remount. The only question is, can you keep the bike upright or will you topple sideways and crash to the floor, because as you commit to the climb the bike is under so much tension there is no way to unclip...
Something to look forward to. :)
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The only question is, can you keep the bike upright or will you topple sideways and crash to the floor...
Hmm. Happily this is difficult to do on a trike. Maybe I should try it.
Not that Fawley Bottom is on the Nyctophobic anyway?
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Man - that bacon butty will take some earning!
Fawley Bottom and Colstrope both needed a little walk.
What a fabulous day to be out though - just sunshine all day. Soon got cold though once the sun started to go. Super moon was amazing already.
1 missing signpost, which I will email Manotea about (same one as was missing last year, so clearly the highways people just are not doing a good enough job!).
I really do hope the high pressure stays and you get good weather next weekend.
The best thing about the AUK season date change is that this ride is a month earlier and is just at the perfect time with all the fields having been harvested and everything looking bare and ready for autumn proper to kick in.
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see some of you this evening, some of you tomorrow :thumbsup:
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I rode Fawley Bottom on last week's HHH - it's a lot easier after 15k than 150 !!!
I'm stamping cards at Benson. (It's Saturday, right?)
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see some of you this evening, some of you tomorrow :thumbsup:
see you in the pub, best bit of the ride :thumbsup:
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Routesheet holder on the HUD and gpx locked and loaded.
As they say in Audax Top Gun school:
I feel the need, the need for an average speed of between 15kph and 30kph
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Got the AAAnti-inflammatories, the tape for the achilles, contact lenses, knee supports, yes....I'm fit for it. (mustn't leave the teeth behind - bacon butty.)
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Looking forward to this, big contrast in weather compared to last year. Sun, sun and more sun.
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You're supposed to grin when a loon inna hedge shouts "hello" ;)
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^you scaring those poor little randonneurs again?
Who won?
Sounds like a great day to be on a bike, hope everyone is having fun, especially on the joys of colstrope lane etc!
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Great day out, fancied the Less Anfractuous this year and was glad of the decision. Good to blow away the cobwebs post PBP and got around in just over eight hours.
Home now, showered and watching the Rugby, go Scotland and then go England later on this evening.
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Great day out on the AAAAAARGHHHfractuous....those hills never stopped coming & I found it tough this year without my usual regular 200's beforehand. From Wantage to Pangbourne, despite being less hilly that the rest of the route, seemed really slow today - I think I was low on energy but picked up a bit after Pangbourne & started to enjoy myself again, even grimping up Colstrope Lane ;D
Thanks for organising this Paul :thumbsup:
Cheers,
Peter.
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Good ride on the Nyctophobic too. I had the slightly odd experience of dropping most of the group on the first hill out of Chalfont, and the even odder one of being among the first few finishers. Not sure what happened there. The trike idea never happened - the descent of Dudley Lane, just before Colstrope Lane, needs good brakes, and I hadn't got the work done on them that I had planned.
Going out to Benson seemed much easier than returning. Yes, I know it's hillier, but it was the flat bits that were harder. Maybe there was more wind than I thought, maybe I'd just pushed it on the way out. Either way, getting back took an hour longer than the outward leg.
Great way to use the last decent day of weather for a year. And even Colstrope Lane, after my failure two years ago, didn't seem too bad.
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The wind, although light in terms of its speed, had a major effect on my speed - can't claim to understand the physics of this. I was a little over 5kph faster from Wantage - CStP than I was on the outward journey (I did the Less A)
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nice day out in pleasant weather - one of those days when same layers worked from the morning untill i reached home in the evening. first audax after pbp and legs were working fine, better than expected. rode with LaidBackRich until streatley, veloboy all way round and with Tom (tcr'15 finisher) since wantage. thanks Manotea and the team!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DL5opClLWb8/VhAwsFGb18I/AAAAAAAAEqw/6XfbLP5ftGg/s640-Ic42/2015-10-03%25252011.55.21.jpg)
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Best bit was getting to the top of Colstrope Lane and finding a great crop of blackberries surrounding the info control ... nom nom nom
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Best bit was getting to the top of Colstrope Lane and finding a great crop of blackberries surrounding the info control ... nom nom nom
Oh..I thought the info was at the junction at the bottom ;D
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lovely day for it 8) although it never got warm enough to take off any of the clothes I started with and very cold at the finish
Panini in the square in Wantage hit the spot and very quick
Thanks Paul Matt & Liam :thumbsup:
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and got around in just over eight hours.
Saw you turn in front of me from a roundabout before Marlow..then you was gone.
Really good effort on the Vendetta.
I was also glad to have done the LessA, it was plenty for me at the moment.
Rode with SwissHat for a brief period up to Streatley. Then he was also gone. On fixed.
I climb like a brick :)
The Lesser swaps Colstrope for the A4155 from Henley to Marlow. It wasn't too bad actually, except that climb near Medmenham - an utterly dreadful surface and one or two motors taking a risk or two.
Terrific day out. Strange day for clothing though. To remove or not to remove.
As ever, thanks to Paul and the team.
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An excellent day out on two wheels. Delightful leafy lanes plus the usual challenging hills on the AAA, Colestrope Lane proved a little bit too steep, narrow and long for me though :'( Choose any 2 from 3 for a successful grimp. Did anyone claim the fixed wheel bacon butty?
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What a difference from last year. Cool but sunny for most of the day. Surprisingly cool in fact. Suffered a 30 minute delay due to puncturing after hitting a stone just before the grass triangle at Winchbottom Lane. Had a panic attack when I realise my phone was no longer in its mount due to one of the retaining tabs breaking off but in fact the phone was nice and safe as it had finally fallen off the bike onto the grass. Thank goodness for zip ties.
I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast beans on toast at the Waterfront Cafe and then had the pleasure of riding with Martin and Ann on and off on the way to Wantage.
There were lots of hills I didn't remember from last year but I guess that's selective (protective) memory. However, this year I did manage to get up all of the hills. I did need the 22x36 gearing for Colstrope lane and a couple of other hills later on.
It was a slower ride than I wanted but I suspect I was still a little tired from doing two 200km rides last weekend.
Many thanks to Paul and his helpers for putting on such a pleasant but very challenging ride.
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rode with LaidBackRich until streatley
^That climb out of Streatley sure sorts out the men from the boys eh! Fantastic ride again in superb conditions, I see it was my 5th in 6 years, I think I quite like it, thanks Paul and team. Great pub sessions too both before and after, beer is so wonderful both for carbo-loading and recovery drink.
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An excellent day out on two wheels. Delightful leafy lanes plus the usual challenging hills on the AAA, Colestrope Lane proved a little bit too steep, narrow and long for me though :'( Choose any 2 from 3 for a successful grimp. Did anyone claim the fixed wheel bacon butty?
The Butty D'Or? Sadly, no, looks like I'll have to put it back in the fridge until next year!
Another great day for all the riders and an easy albeit long day for me, thanks to my helpers. Marcus for route checking, Liam and Martin manning breakfast teapots, Matt stamping cards at Benson and Caroline and John looking after the kitchen in the evening. About 75 on the road for the two Anfractuous routes and 20 Nyctophobics. Excellent!
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Excellent it certainly was - thanks Paul
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Hello Boys and Girls, as the 2016 Season starts to wind down, it's time to think to the future and so, yes, once more it is time for the AAAnfractuous, Less Anfractuous and Nyctophobic Triple Bill!
Same great routes around the Chilterns and Newbury Downs from Chalfont St Peter, with a hilly 200km, a not so hilly 200km, and a sporting 100km to delight you, and the same sleepover options at the Community Centre on the Friday night.
What's not to like? Click the graphic for more info.
(http://events.paudax.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/AAN_logo33.jpg) (http://events.paudax.com/)
.
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Entered!
Should be fun!
Beers with Laid Back Rich at the finish again?!! :thumbsup:
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I'm torn between this ride and the memorial ride for Richard Ellis on the same day...decisions decisions...
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Very rare for me to miss this in some form or another. It was my first ever 200km, so has a special place in my heart!
Off touring this time though.
Colstrope Lane will just have to wait for another time.
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I'm torn between this ride and the memorial ride for Richard Ellis on the same day...decisions decisions...
+1
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I'm entered for the Less Anfractuous.... It made for a good start to the season last year.
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I have entered the Nyctophobic. This will be my first Audax for a while. Looking forward to it :)
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I am thinking about the less anfractuous :)
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Torn about entering this. On the one hand an event close to home saves wasting time getting there and back. But riding an event on roads I use all the time seems strange. Still, I want a 200 for October and it is a free day so will probably go for it.
Less an fractious for me, fewer info controls and also less climbing.
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Really want to do this.... the hills are calling to me! I am in partner pending....
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I'm in. Enjoyed the lesser last year - step up this year....
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Entered! See you there! Make sure there some caaeeeeekkkkee at the beginning....
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I have entered the Nyctophobic. This will be my first Audax for a while. Looking forward to it :)
Same here, I did the 100 as an ECE back in 2010
Dawn will be with me as she would like to try for 10 x 100s in a season.
I'm going to try it on my single speed MTB! :facepalm: ;D
Rich
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I notice it has 1400m of climbing (basically half the 200k in 100k), is the Nyctophobic likely to be too lumpy for my missus on her singlespeed? She's never actually ridden 100k before but is quite strong on the bike.
Colstrope Lane and walking has been mentioned but is it likely to be a miserable walk-fest for her or are most of the hills <20%. Don't want to break her on her first 'dax.
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Hello.
still faffing around deciding which event to enter, but I'm here to report a problem!!
Marlow Bridge is now shut, some lorry has broken it. It's closed for 'the foreseeable future' There's plenty of (flatter!!!) ways round but it might need an official re-route.
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I notice it has 1400m of climbing (basically half the 200k in 100k), is the Nyctophobic likely to be too lumpy for my missus on her singlespeed? She's never actually ridden 100k before but is quite strong on the bike.
Colstrope Lane and walking has been mentioned but is it likely to be a miserable walk-fest for her or are most of the hills <20%. Don't want to break her on her first 'dax.
Colstrope Lane is the only real killer on the Nyctophobic, it would be tough on a single speed, I find it bad enough with gears ;D
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Footpath is open across bridge for cyclist
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I notice it has 1400m of climbing (basically half the 200k in 100k), is the Nyctophobic likely to be too lumpy for my missus on her singlespeed? She's never actually ridden 100k before but is quite strong on the bike.
Colstrope Lane and walking has been mentioned but is it likely to be a miserable walk-fest for her or are most of the hills <20%. Don't want to break her on her first 'dax.
Colstrope Lane is the only real killer on the Nyctophobic, it would be tough on a single speed, I find it bad enough with gears ;D
It has to be said its a long way up from Marlow to Christmas Common... not uber steep but a haul...well worth it though. :)
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Footpath is open across bridge for cyclist
As David says it is reported in the local paper that the bridge is open to pedestrians and Cyclists :)
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Glad to see the event is still open; forgot to enter and thought I'd missed it! :facepalm:
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And that reminds me, the Butty D'Or awaits fixers on 70" or more who can lay claim to a 'clear round' (no foot faults) on the climbs.
Not many are called, even fewer are chosen...
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And that reminds me, the Butty D'oR awaits fixers on 70" or more who can lay claim to a 'clear round' (no foot faults) on the climbs.
Not many are called, even fewer are chosen...
This was my first ever Audax in 2010 - I rode 73" and reverted to 24th gear 3-times. The heat is on...
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Best I ever managed was to get to The Grit Bin on Colstrope Lane (73ish gear) before it got to be a track stand. It's just not wide enough to tack.
ETA: BTW, I now live in prime training country. I might yet bring the Pomp out of cold storage and start training on Rosedale Chimney, ready for next year :D.
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I think I was behind you? A car came past as I was meandering towards the middle of the road and tooted its horn; stalled and ended my progress.
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Now entered. I was planning on taking the road bike but now I'm wondering! I'ts geared as 77" but I kept the older chainring so could get it down to 73 O:-)
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Fawley Bottom is a close second to Colstrope, BTW - I'm not sure I've ridden all the way up there either :).
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Love me a challenge. Is it time I built another fixed wheel?
I just spent a pretty penny fitting ALL THE GEARS to my new bike though. #sigh
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i stalled on the top third of colstrope lane with 69" gear. with fresh legs it would've been no problem, but at the end of the ride it stings! (similar to llancloudy on the bcm)
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i stalled on the top third of colstrope lane with 69" gear. with fresh legs it would've been no problem, but at the end of the ride it stings! (similar to llancloudy on the bcm)
You'd have made it if you had a bigger 'fuel tank' like mine ;0)
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Can someone tell me that it isn't going to rain all day. I may change my bike to the heavier one with the mudguards.
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Well from where we stand it certainly looks like we'll have our fair share of rain. Now pondering whether it is worth it to clean the bike before hand.
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Well from where we stand it certainly looks like we'll have our fair share of rain. Now pondering whether it is worth it to clean the bike before hand.
Clean chain and cassette at least? and make sure the pads are nice and dry to start with methinks. Feckin' weather!
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Will probably do that at least, everybody loves a good chain cleaning session :)
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Well from where we stand it certainly looks like we'll have our fair share of rain. Now pondering whether it is worth it to clean the bike before hand.
BBC have downgraded parts of the route from two raindrops to one! Watching the weather forecast is almost as fun as riding through the weather itself.
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Well from where we stand it certainly looks like we'll have our fair share of rain. Now pondering whether it is worth it to clean the bike before hand.
BBC have downgraded parts of the route from two raindrops to one! Watching the weather forecast is almost as fun as riding through the weather itself.
According to Accuweather Goring, Oxforshire is mostly sunny with a couple of thunderstorm outbreaks!! Weatherbagel lies a lot....
Now i am wondering "light bike or heavy bike with mudguards".... I am actually gonna take my light bike at this rate.
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http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcpv117v7#?fcTime=1475280000
Heavy shower day
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http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcpv117v7#?fcTime=1475280000
Heavy shower day
Yebbut we're not riding in Ealing and Met office are RUBBISH!
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Sorry, wrong link... and metoffice is the most accurate site that I've used in this country of failed forecasting.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcpte6m6w#?fcTime=1475280000
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Hmm we shall see! I've gone for my light bike with 32 rig for the hills. I doubt anyone will be on my wheel ;)
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The weather is really never as bad as they predict (generally); however, occasionally, when the weathermen get it 'wrong' its usually pelting down :-o
...Hopefully the former... :thumbsup:
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Alternatively we could postpone the ride to Sunday (http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/4b0a0470-d86d-4d0f-bc30-34ef9476f1d3)?
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Alternatively we could postpone the ride to Sunday (http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/4b0a0470-d86d-4d0f-bc30-34ef9476f1d3)?
Today is GLORIOUS!! Feckin' country! ;)
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Alternatively we could postpone the ride to Sunday (http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/4b0a0470-d86d-4d0f-bc30-34ef9476f1d3)?
Sunday does look good, I was considering doing it as a DIY then if tomorrow looks miserable.
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Gosh, I hope you chaps aren't planning on riding LEL!
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time
When you take you gotta give so live and let live
I could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don't find roses growin' on stalks of clover
So you better think it over
Well if sweet-talkin' you could make it come true
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
But what would it matter
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we can
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With a serenade like that how could anyone refuse 8)
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We were down for the 100 but will be a DNS.
I don't mind cycling in the rain but mixed with the hills Dawn may/will not enjoy it as a first calendar ride.
Don't want to put her off audax before she's started ;D
We'll try and do the route on another free weekend.
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No cycling for me today - have to work. Am already chained to my desk watching the sun come up :'(
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Hey, I've had a bit of a lie-in :facepalm: - so as train are I'll be in Gerrard Cross at 08:04, which should put me at the start 'round 08:15. I didn't find any phone number so posting it there, hopefully there will still be people at the HQ?
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Kripes! I overslept through the alarm!
Though must admit, I wasn't very keen on a day's riding in the wet.
Looks like the afternoon (at least here in London) is turning out better than forecasted. Hope everyone had a brilliant day a'wheel!
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I'm quite glad I rode the AAAnf route last weekend instead of today :smug: ;D
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Just popped down to Pangbourne with my wife to pick up some food from the Co-op. Mel Kirkland was coming out, trying to balance his purchases on the bars while pushing his bike across the road (directly across the mini roundabout :hand:) to the seats outside the George Hotel. He dropped his gloves, and I kindly picked them up O:-). My wife and I got soaked in a shower on the .75 mile walk home. Looking out of the window, there are now blue skies. It's one of those days.
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Does anyone want to own up to packing before Benson and
NOT PHONING* THE ORGANISER?
It's not like your Fat Controller had anything better to do with his Saturday than watch river-boats being steam-cleaned.
Perhaps the riders didnt like the showers (and hadn't read the forecast), poor things. This always peeves me, but I was out until 5am last weekend instead of the (clearly much more sane) 4am, waiting for the same sort of forgetful riders. The numbers are starting to stack up ...
<exits stage left, grumbling ... >
*Or texting even. How long does it take??
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Hey, I've had a bit of a lie-in :facepalm: - so as train are I'll be in Gerrard Cross at 08:04, which should put me at the start 'round 08:15. I didn't find any phone number so posting it there, hopefully there will still be people at the HQ?
There was a phone number on the route sheet. Luckily there would be someone there as the 100km started later.
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Been driving on the m4 in some epic rain. Hope everyone is keeping warm.
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Been driving on the m4 in some epic rain. Hope everyone is keeping warm.
we put some nice hills in for that very purpose :)
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Been driving on the m4 in some epic rain. Hope everyone is keeping warm.
we put some nice hills in for that very purpose :)
true but the downhills made me cold again, can we have fewer of those? ;)
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First lot of rain was ok... the second lot was taking the piss!! huge rivers running down 20% hills is NOT what I want to see!!
EDIT: just taken my bike out of the car. Looks like I suffered a puncture! Good thing I can fix that in the warmth of the house.
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Does anyone want to own up to packing before Benson and
NOT PHONING* THE ORGANISER?
I'm certainly to blame here. I actually didn't pack, but didn't have the routesheet with me and the marker on the gpx took me to a service station/M&S/MacDonalds complex. I didn't look further as I was drenched and cold. Mea maxima culpa :-[
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Both the full controls were slightly off mark, the Wantage one being the worst.Just shows that the route sheet is the normative information which is why I always carry one in my back pocket. I was still grateful for the controls being marked on the GPX. I only look at the route sheet when I have a problem.
The event went much better than I was expecting. Rain at 9 which wasn't too bad then serious stuff at 10 which was at its worst whilst e joy in cake and coffee at Benson. Rain stopped before departure but discovered a rear wheel puncture. The Wantage and Lambourn area was wonderful with temperature rising and sunshine. Trouble finding the Wantage control from the GAP BUT easy after I got the set out and the cafe was great. Sun lasted to near Pangbourne although a few spots of rain had reappeared. Also consistent on Audax es this year as there was sun thee was also a rainbow. Rain started properly again and lasted to Marlow. I put my coat on for the first time. Front gear cable snapped on Whitchurch hill which left me in the small ring. Probably the best for this ride but it meant anything vaguely flat became a spinning class. Weather sorted itself out after Marlow bridge -which was lovely without cars.
Weather held to the finch.
Thanks Manotea and team for a great and we'll supported event
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Where was the Wantage control out of interest? I live just north of there so if you're looking for a manned control next time I might be able to assist.
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It was the museum cafe. Really easy to find. Don't understand the problem with it.
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It was the museum cafe. Really easy to find. Don't understand the problem with it.
There's a museum?
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It was the museum cafe. Really easy to find. Don't understand the problem with it.
There's a museum?
http://wantage-museum.com
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:thumbsup:
It was the museum cafe. Really easy to find. Don't understand the problem with it.
There's a museum?
http://wantage-museum.com
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Certainly the waypoint for the Wantage control could have been more accurate.
I gave up after a circuit of town centre and went to Waitrose for PoP and to get my mobile out to download the route sheet (more to remind me of even what the control was called!) I don't have a printer at home and sometimes try to be 'paperless'.
Unfortunately this time I didn't reccy (unknown to me) controls with Streetview either - so mostly a lack of planning/preparation on my part.
Anyway an good day out with some well timed breaks at Benson & Pangbourne to miss some of the rain. Varying riding by my self and with a couple of groups - the weather was enough to be testing without being too challenging/miserable. Lots of Red Kites seen in the Chilterns which is always great.
Thanks to Paul Stewart for organizing.
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The answer to the Lambourne info control question, red kites and hoot owls made getting a bit soggy (and a lot lost through Marlow) totally worthwhile. Thanks MoT, nice warm up for the winter rides.
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It was the museum cafe. Really easy to find. Don't understand the problem with it.
The route sheet was fine, the gpx showed it off route towards the town centre. That was the only problem other than going the wrong way at the start which was a bit silly considering I did the ride last year.
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Started out well, some lovely early climbs in the mist which turned to rain on the way to Benson.
Collected a puncture just before the stop which wasn't a total shock as the little Chiltern flints always come out to play in the rain. Thankfully I'd packed a couple of disposable gloves so the white bar tape was preserved O:-)
Didn't feel too great on the way to Wantage but kept plugging away and recovered for Lambourn in time to acquire several buns from the assets of the Devonia bakery.
Turns out the lady in the bakery was from Northern Ireland, as am I, so that was a bit of a happy coincidence and I took this as a sign of great victory to come ;D
On to the next stop where I received some odd looks from the staff in Pangbourne Costa as I came through the door yammering about stickers for my bicycle - they may have thought I was an old looking child who was very fond of stickers or possibly a danger to myself or others, so I relented from this conversational path and got a receipt instead.
By this time the light was starting to fade and the full horrors of the AAA event came to bear with some tough climbing into Marlow. This coincided with my main bike light failing so I had to switch to a head torch for the last 30Km or so. Glasses were now off due to the combination of limited light, small lanes and rain but I managed the last few KM without serious mishap.
Like everyone else I got soaked, dried out and got soaked again throughout the day but the temperatures were mild and I was never really uncomfortable, even enjoyed my walk up the top of Colstrope lane :)
Some lovely scenery, nice views of the Thames and many smaller rivers, and a lot of pretty villages. Even a fantastic double rainbow on the way to Pangbourne. Met quite a few people on the way round and spirits seemed pretty high despite the wet weather.
Many thanks to Paul and helpers for organising an excellent day out :thumbsup: