Author Topic: Finishing an audax on a different bike  (Read 16189 times)

Chris S

Finishing an audax on a different bike
« on: 06 June, 2010, 10:09:02 pm »
There's no rule to say you can't use more than one bike on an audax is there?

I've read stories of folks' bikes breaking in half, and them legging it home for a replacement, but I'm talking about a premeditated change at a point in a route.

Both would be fixed gear, so wouldn't flout any FG restriction - though gearing is different (but still fixed, not SS).

There are legit reasons for wanting to swap bike part way through. The official route passes near my home, so it's not like I'm calling on a support vehicle or anything.

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #1 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:13:55 pm »
PBP used to put seals on bikes to prevent bike changes but that rule went out decades ago. Swap away!
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

border-rider

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #2 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:14:14 pm »
It's possibly not in the spirit of the FWC to deliberately change the gearing part way round

Otherwise, using more than one bike on an event is not that unusual.

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #3 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:18:23 pm »
Tell me again about flipping the rear wheel around on the Gospel Pass?
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Chris S

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #4 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:18:57 pm »
It's possibly not in the spirit of the FWC to deliberately change the gearing part way round

Y'see - that's why I asked. I had it in the back of my mind that Mr FWC doesn't wholly approve of wheel flipping, and therefore by implication, bike flipping.

But they are both fixed gears. I don't really understand what the issue is - it's a "Fixed Wheel" challenge, not "Single Speed" or "Fixed Gear" challenge.

*looks around*

*sees "Minefield" sign*

Oh.

border-rider

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #5 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:22:18 pm »
Tell me again about flipping the rear wheel around on the Gospel Pass?

Only once, and that before Phixie made it clear that such things were frowned upon.

Chris S

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #6 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:24:30 pm »
Erm... mods - this thread is taking on a, how shall we say, "specialist" aspect. Feel free to move it to the appropriate Fixed Wheel Dept if deemed appropriate.

Martin

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #7 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:24:51 pm »
on the Severn Across which completed my first SR; being the last 400 in the calendar (long before the days I would have considered a perm anything), I had a reserve bike waiting to be transported to me should I need it (I didn't); there doesn't seem to be any AUK rule about using your own independent rescue / repair service so I imagine this also applies to the bike.

I know of one rider who swapped his tandem for a (DNF's ) single after losing his stoker on PBP (complete tangent; I had a rider on my event turn up with his wife on tandem having just entered himself, no idea where AUK insurance would stand on that but they were both CTC so not an issue)

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #8 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:28:34 pm »
I know somebody who got a replacement bike driven to him to let him finish a Chapman.  No problems with that. I think Phixie is a bit fundamentalist but in any case, there is no rule against flipping a wheel or swapping bikes.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Chris S

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #9 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:31:39 pm »
I think Phixie is a bit fundamentalist but in any case, there is no rule against flipping a wheel or swapping bikes.

Hmm... That's possibly my thinking too. But at the same time, it's also important to me to keep to the spirit of the thing, as well as the rules.

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #10 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:46:43 pm »
If you self-flagellate with bamboo strips whilst riding uphill it is ok to wheel flip

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #11 on: 06 June, 2010, 10:53:43 pm »
I have been toying with this too, but doing some fixed and some not. If the route is, for example, 2 x 100k loops, what's to stop me swapping bikes (although obviously I'd only claim fixed for the part that was)?

If you self-flagellate with bamboo strips whilst riding uphill it is ok to wheel flip
I only have leather straps for this. Is that OK?

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #12 on: 07 June, 2010, 08:23:37 am »


But they are both fixed gears. I don't really understand what the issue is - it's a "Fixed Wheel" challenge, not "Single Speed" or "Fixed Gear" challenge.


In the narrative I read from the FWC Administrator I think I read that he considers the choice of gear for the route as part of the challenge. Just don't claim the FWC points and you'll have nothing on you conscience.

(although obviously I'd only claim fixed for the part that was)?

Is that possible ?

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #13 on: 07 June, 2010, 08:29:30 am »
I've often toyed with the idea of starting the Brevet Cymru on a Brompton, or something equally unsuitable, and then swap to my audax bike when I pass my house a few miles in.  

I nearly asked Mrs Tewdric to bring my mountain bike to Hay on the Gospel Pass once too.

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #14 on: 07 June, 2010, 08:32:01 am »
I'd have no qualms about swapping bikes, I wouldn't claim FWC points if I swapped bikes with different gears.

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #15 on: 07 June, 2010, 08:40:46 am »
You aren't able to claim 'odd bike' points for a portion of a ride, only if you use the same sort of 'odd bike' for the whole brevet.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Manotea

  • Where there is doubt...
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #16 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:16:51 am »
3peaker lost a wheel on LEL: started on a trike and finished on a 2wheel jobbe.

I hear cyclocross types  switch bikes mid event (i.e, Rob Jebb at 3 Peak Cyclocross).

But Mr Smith, what are these legit reasons you speak of?

Fidgetbuzz

  • L sp MOON. 1st R sp MARS . At X SO sp STARS
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #17 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:30:13 am »

I only have leather straps for this. Is that OK?

Hang on that is nothing to do with cycling - surely these are a bedroom toy  ::-)
I was an accountant until I discovered Audax !!

iakobski

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #18 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:30:54 am »
But they are both fixed gears. I don't really understand what the issue is - it's a "Fixed Wheel" challenge, not "Single Speed" or "Fixed Gear" challenge.

*looks around*

*sees "Minefield" sign*

Oh.

The name doesn't specify, but yes it is a Single Gear Fixed Wheel Challenge. That is clear as things like S-A S3X are explicitly not allowed.

If you want to change bikes then you have two choices: have the same gear on each; or do another 200 the day after to get the FWC points. Actually, you have  a third choice - claim the points anyway no-one is going to care other than yourself, so why would you want to complete the FWC knowing you were outwith the spirit of the challenge?

Fidgetbuzz

  • L sp MOON. 1st R sp MARS . At X SO sp STARS
Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #19 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:35:00 am »
Not a FWC guy ( although I have ridden a couple of 200's on fixed).

Is the forum really telling me that I could not flip a rear wheel if I was doing a ride with some serious hills towards the end - and I needed a lower gear to make my ride pleasurable?
I was an accountant until I discovered Audax !!

border-rider

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #20 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:36:51 am »
I believe that "it's frowned upon" probably covers it with respect to the FWC.

mikewigley

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #21 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:37:37 am »
(complete tangent; I had a rider on my event turn up with his wife on tandem having just entered himself, no idea where AUK insurance would stand on that but they were both CTC so not an issue)

Not a problem as far as insurance is concerned if the additional member is in the CTC - but this is a bit cheeky.  This is just the same as one person entering the ride, and all his clubmates simply following round, blocking up cafes, possibly even consuming refreshments.  I would welcome the tandem rider but ask for another entry fee to help cover the event costs

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #22 on: 07 June, 2010, 10:40:39 am »
Not a FWC guy ( although I have ridden a couple of 200's on fixed).

Is the forum really telling me that I could not flip a rear wheel if I was doing a ride with some serious hills towards the end - and I needed a lower gear to make my ride pleasurable?
If you are not  doing the FWC then using more than one gear is fine. The piece I read from the FWC Administrator made me think he thought it should be outlawed.

here is where he said it

SA S3X and the FWC

and he said

Quote
I have no problem with choosing a different size gear for a different event - say 90" for a flat ride in East Anglia or 50" for a Super Grimpeur, but prefer the ratio to be unchanged during that ride.

my emphasis

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #23 on: 07 June, 2010, 11:00:58 am »
There's no rule to say you can't use more than one bike on an audax is there?
I see a "can of worms being opened".

You don't have to use a bike** when participating on an audax. Probably the most notable example in recent years was At the 2003 PBP. the bar for "weirdest machine to finish" was raised very high by a Finn named Alpo Kuusisto. He successfully completed the event on a scooter! Thrust forward by his tennis shoes upon the pavement, he "kicked" PBP in about 84.5 hours and arrived at the finish line in Guyancourt at about 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

 **The term bike refers to any form of monocycle/bicycle/tricycle you care to think of.

The problem basicly lies in the fact that categories within AUK are set-up with very loose and abiguous conditions (I hesitate to use the term rules). These then get interpreted in an almost infinite number of ways. I dislike the necessity for having procedures (having worked to them for 30 years before I retired), but they do have their place. Everyone knows where they stand, or sit, or pedal - or free-wheel ......
where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Re: Finishing an audax on a different bike
« Reply #24 on: 07 June, 2010, 11:06:26 am »
Is the forum really telling me that I could not flip a rear wheel if I was doing a ride with some serious hills towards the end - and I needed a lower gear to make my ride pleasurable?

According to the rules there's nothing to say you can't.

According to the spirit you shouldn't. You should either suffer with a low gear for the flat part of the ride in order to make the hills at the end easier, or ride the first part with a big gear and suffer in the hills at the end, or find a pyrrhic compromise.

I did the whole of LEL on 67" without a problem, even with that tailwind across the flatlands heading North on day 1. If I need multiple gears on a ride I'll ride a bike with gears.

On the LEL recce ride I did in March '09 I did swap gears between days 1 and 2, but I'd entered the rides as individual DIYs (300,200,200) so there was no change of gear during a ride. What it taught me was that it's more hassle than it's worth and to just HTFU and pick a gear in the middle and get on with it.

Do what you want, but don't be surprised if you get the odd sharp look from people who would prefer the FWC to have an explicit rule preventing gear changes mid ride.
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."