Yesterday, I did a 200k audax. I’ve done very little riding over the past 3-4 weeks, but felt really confident I could bimble around this one at a relaxed pace. It was organised by the Audax Club-mid Essex (ACME) who are quite prolific in organising and promoting audax in the area. As I live in South London most of my long rides tend to head to the south coast or out to the west of London, so I wanted to see a bit of the country that I don’t know very well, with the ride starting in Great Dunmow. The profile for the ride was also pretty flat with a few rolling hills and not his too hard to deal with.
Unfortunately, I was blighted with another bout of indigestion from the night before and woke up feeling a bit second hand. I probably should have sacked it off but with nothing planned for the rest of the year I wanted to get this one done and hopefully enjoy it so I had a lighter breakfast and drive off to the start.
I managed to start badly in that I had to park in a nearby village and cycle to the start, getting lost on the way. I ended up cycling 15km when it was only 3km away! . So I picked up my brevet card and started 20 minutes behind everyone else. Not a big problem as it’s not a race and I could just go at my own pace and hopefully pick up a few stragglers. I started off feeling really good. The Essex countryside was really stunning. There was lots of farming activity going on with the crops being harvested. The only major issue here was that the winds were blowing crop dust everywhere, which was pretty unpleasant. The wind! ‘Kin ‘ell! Pretty much a headwind all day, despite a circular route. I sometimes had the ‘ ‘pleasure’ of a cross wind but it was relentless, all day.
The first checkpoint was at 70km and just before reaching it I could feel my power dropping off. Because my stomach was delicate, I just wasn’t putting enough calories in, so once again, I just had to slow right down and spin gently. Even on the gentle rises that I would normally be able to push over. I just had to sit in my seat a twiddle the lowest gear. I tried to take my mind off it by looking at the scenery as much as possible and stopping regularly to straighten up and give my stomach a bit of room, which helped a bit.
Again, I spent the day on my own. Most of the people who I had passed early on and had coalesced into small groups and were travelling faster, but as I wasn’t feeling great I just wanted to be on my own and not make small talk, but this meant no shelter from the wind.
One thing I did get right was to move through the controls quickly. Most other people were queuing up for coffees and cake and sitting down. As I couldn’t really eat anyway, I just topped up my bottle, grabbed a pack of crisps and got going again. There was no point delaying the inevitable but it meant that I would leapfrog the dozen or so riders who were around me and they would catch me on the road again. By this time, I didn’t have a clue where I was, with the route taking us into Hertfordshire and then into Bedfordshire, before looping back. The only place I did recognise was Biggleswade and Old Warden, where I’ve been to watch a few air shows. Other than that, it was one picture perfect village after another.
The other issue that began to manifest itself was my lack of body conditioning. I really noticed that my back, hamstrings and core were really starting to ache. I’ve never had comfort issues like this before, not on a ride of this length any and it’s really made me realise that I need to properly do something about this.
The last checkpoint was this fab cycle cafe called Spokes. For the last 5 hours or so, the only food is had was some crisps and fruit pastilles, so I decided to sit down and take a slightly longer rest. I was able to have some fruit smoothie which was more energy dense and I could feel myself revived a little bit more and the next 30km after this stop were my best of the day and I was able to pick up my average speed a little bit. However, that soon ran out and the last 20km I was back to a steady trudge, to the finish.
I felt more broken at the end of this ride than I did after the 300 a few weeks ago. My lack of conditioning and not being able to take on calories is not a good combination and it’s given me a bit of a wake up call. Job number one is to find out what’s going on with this indigestion so that will be a GP call next week. And for now, I’m taking a break from anything remotely endurance based; even the gentle and benign world of audax riding. My body just isn’t up to it, so I’ll sign up for some
Pilates or yoga classes, more for my long term health than anything else.
I’m planning on doing the KW Bramley audax in October if I can temp you. Think it’s just over 200km getting to Surbiton and back etc… if you’re tempted!
My loose plan had been to start the Randonneur Round the Year, where you ride a 200k every month for a year, and the 2 upcoming KW rides were going to form part of that. I’d love to, but I really need to get a bit lighter and improve my core a lot more.
Well let me know. I’ve never done an audax and 200k would be the longest ride I would have completed. Keen to give it whirl. Not fussed on riding fast etc
Well done for keeping going, a ride as long as that if you aren’t great is tough, and the recent 300 would take recovery.
Does sound like a good idea to let your body recover a bit and keep the distance, just enjoy the ride without knowing you have to be out for all those hours.
After getting inspired whilst following TCR, I’ve reviewed the route of my second trip round Wales and blocked out the second week of September.
I originally planned the route during lockdown for late summer 2020 but was too worried about being impacted by local Welsh rules to set off.
So, after my little trip to Sheffield in May, looks like I’ll be dusting off the torpedo again this year.
Obviously a forecast of poor weather might still change my mind
Setting off on Sunday, will be doing updates on Instagram if anyone is interested (Cobbie1965), never posted before so this will be a new experience!
Route:
It’s very similar to what I did in 2019 in terms of total distance and elevation but very little is repeated.
Overnights in Nefyn, Machynlleth, Lampeter, Carmarthen and Bulith Wells.
Day 3 is the toughest through central Wales, fingers crossed the weather is OK - the forecast for Tuesday is rainy at the moment.
My report from the first trip is linked somewhere earlier in the thread I think.
But it has gone pretty well, 3 days down to my parents for my mum’s birthday, 3 days back again. First time using a tent instead of B&B, simple farm campsites, no wild camping. So hot water, and elec for charging (mostly) but not much else.
As I was spending a day with my parents, I needed some real clothes, I’ve also got a long sleeve jersey and a rain top that I haven’t touched, but had to pack just in case. Easier days have been 110-130k with moderate climbing, yesterday was 140k across Dartmoor and Exmoor. That was tough, partly because it was hard to get places to fill water bottles. Apparently I am 15% heat adapted, whatever that means.
I think I’ve managed to do an insta video at the second attempt.
I’m sure it’s just because I’m an old git but it’s remarkably difficult to use after cycling a hilly 100 miles and a beer
. So I picked up my brevet card and started 20 minutes behind everyone else. Not a big problem as it’s not a race and I could just go at my own pace and hopefully pick up a few stragglers. I started off feeling really good. The Essex countryside was really stunning. There was lots of farming activity going on with the crops being harvested. The only major issue here was that the winds were blowing crop dust everywhere, which was pretty unpleasant. The wind! ‘Kin ‘ell! Pretty much a headwind all day, despite a circular route. I sometimes had the ‘ ‘pleasure’ of a cross wind but it was relentless, all day.
