Audax Rides

Wishbone Ash

I must keep this in mind for next year - didn't realise it was on until a day or two ago.

Planet X wrote: »

..Plenty of hills in NCD.

The only bit through NCD would have been Garristown to Naul - pretty flattish.

Carawaystick

Hauki wrote: »

Maybe a bit offtopic, but what would be your advise on pushing the distance to "audax-ish" figures? Currently I'm fairly comfortable on doing 100-150k rides around Wicklow with decent amount of climbing, so I think I should have somewhat decent level of fitness to start. What would be the steps required to push the distance well beyond 200k mark or even closer to 300k/day?

If you can do 150 k in Wicklow, a flatter 200 in the midlands would be no bother
And if you can do the Mick Byrne or Wicklow 200 all the better

The next step is to cycle 20 km or so to the start of an audax and home again after


The Tara200 was a great spin, with a few sharp climbs at the start and the drag up the Hill of Tara and Skryne hill
Loads of food (and Gatorade)at the stops, nice scenery and courteous Cavan drivers.

brocbrocach

Planet X wrote: »

The inaugural. At 200.5k, very nicely gauged.
First stop around 50k, Donore, thought that was a bit early.....but.......the amount of climbing in that 50k. was fairly decent.
Big turn out, over 60 I reckon, kicked off together @8am.
Met ROK ON

Came across the tail end on one of the Boyne Race groups. No issues.

Kingscourt/ Bailieboro, checkpoint at 110k. On to Athboy, Kells and the final check @Trim @160k. Again, Dave laid on a tremendous spread as the first stop....too much food. Congrats to Dave Finnegan, stellar job, diamond geezer.

So, the sting in the tail was Tara Hill and before, draggy draggy. Tara Hill....straight up, straight road. Head job, and no descent of note. Bummer.
Back roads in, not bad, back before 5pm.
@23.2kph or thereabouts. Forgot to zero the Garmin and had 25k up on it.

Good event, new scenery always a bonus.
Plenty of hills in NCD.

Fair play to ye, martyrs all! I don't think I'd have it in the legs this time of year, but building up to it hopefully!
Was thinking of cycling some of that section in the near future, out towards Kingscourt via the Naul from Dublin. The route looks good and quietish until that section on 73k where you hit the main Navan-Kingscourt road. I've always thought that road would be miserable cycling due to traffic though - how did ye find it if ye don't mind me asking?

Carawaystick

It was fine, its very straight, so traffic can pass when it's clear, and not force by when going between bends. Reasonable surface for the most part. Not too busy.

Planet X

Good luck to all Flêche riders on Friday/Saturday.

Just looking at the weather....... mixed. Probably better than what we've had for the last few weeks though.:-o

topcat77

Has anybody done the The Quiet Man 300?

http://www.audaxireland.org/the-quiet-man-300

Route looks fantastic and thinking of doing it (If the weather is good). Hoping to get some past experience from anyone.

The Ging and I

topcat77 wrote: »

Has anybody done the The Quiet Man 300?

http://www.audaxireland.org/the-quiet-man-300

Route looks fantastic and thinking of doing it (If the weather is good). Hoping to get some past experience from anyone.

WIND
Great route and event.

MediaMan

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Around Wicklow, there's the Ardattin 200 in April and the Mick Byrne 200 in May. The MB has more climbing - almost 3500m in the first 150km. The Ardattin is less taxing and has a nice food stop at the Ardattin Inn half way round. Both are great events and very well run.

Anyone know if the Ardattin 200 is being run this year? There's no mention of it on the Audax Ireland web site.

OleRodrigo

MediaMan wrote: »

Anyone know if the Ardattin 200 is being run this year? There's no mention of it on the Audax Ireland web site.

Not on this year, just got confirmation.

Ah well. More legs for the Mick Byrne I guess.

Euro Fred

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Another option (depending on where one lives) is to ride to and from a 200 and make it longer. Most Dublin based Audax are 25/30k from my house making it easy to do a 250/260 or even a 300 with a diversion on the way home.

Following on from this :

I’m going to cycle from my house to the Orwell Wheelers Randonee at the end of the month which is about 25k if I go by Pine Forest Road through Glencullen.

I was wondering if you have any tips, regarding the start / stop nature of getting going and then stopping for registration etc.

Should I eat again or just treat it as break?

Take lights or hi viz as it may be dark when i get going?

Anything else?

I’m also doing the Mick Byrne which I’m hoping to cycle to and back to, only an extra 10/15k each way to build up to the Wicklow 200 that if the other 2 events go well I’ll be cycling to that aswell possibly an extra 50k each way.

I done a 164k spin last week that had more climbing than any of these but obvs not the distance so I think I can manage it , even if it means crawling home , I was just looking for an titbits of advice

NamelessPhil

I regularly ride to and from audaxes, it's between an extra 13 and 20km each way. I use it as a warm up, i.e. easy enough pace, about the kind of speed you'd commute at. You don't want to arrive huffing and puffing (yeah, right!).

Lights are always a useful addition, they don't weigh much.

Stop/starting again is easy at the beginning and it can take quite a bit of willpower not to phone the broomwagon for the ride home! Bring an extra bar as getting you home supplies. Sometimes your body can cool down quite a bit before the last ride home. I wear my rain cape as an extra layer just to stay comfortable.

Good luck.

Matt Bianco

The Orwell and MB 200 are as poles apart as possible in audaxing in my experience. The Orwell is a flat route which covers some exposed r roads. There are a number of options to get food at service stations along the way - I stopped at Kinnegad Tullammore and Monasterevin which all have handy places without getting involved with going into the centre of the town. As roads are exposed, no harm locking in with a group on the day to share the inevitable headwind.

MB 200 a very different beast and a longer day on the saddle for sure. Numerous threads here on preparation and what to expect and will leave you in ideal condition to tackle the easier WW200 a fortnight later

xebec

Matt Bianco wrote: »

The Orwell and MB 200 are as poles apart as possible in audaxing in my experience. The Orwell is a flat route which covers some exposed r roads.

I believe the OP is referring to the Orwell Randonee and not the Orwell 200 which is indeed a completely different beast to the MB200...

Euro Fred

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11286969 Not sure if we are on about the same Orwell event,

Wishbone Ash

I think Matt Bianco is mistakingly comparing the flat Orwell Dublin/Meath/Kildare Audax - not the Orwell Randonee.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/613423034

Matt Bianco

Yeah mistook the OP as referring to Orwell Audax as opposed to Randonee - only experience of former so refer to higher authorities!

devonp

did this today, definitely my toughest to date , with the very steep Torr climbs
and the snow, hail and rain...as someone else mentioned got sunburned and still trying to thaw out my hands
great turnout 50+ i think, great company and thanks to Stuart for organising

https://www.strava.com/activities/540499335

and thanks to the 2x four legged motivators for getting me up one of near last climbs on Torr head:)

Inquitus

devonp wrote: »

did this today, definitely my toughest to date , with the very steep Torr climbs
and the snow, hail and rain...as someone else mentioned got sunburned and still trying to thaw out my hands
great turnout 50+ i think, great company and thanks to Stuart for organising

https://www.strava.com/activities/540499335

and thanks to the 2x four legged motivators for getting me up one of near last climbs on Torr head:)

Fair play, savage route and savage weather.

Limestone1

devonp wrote: »

and thanks to the 2x four legged motivators for getting me up one of near last climbs on Torr head:)

Was one of them the rather excitable sheepdog at the bottom of Torr head ??

It was my first time cycling in that neck of the woods - Torr road is a really tough climb or series of climbs.

devonp

yes, both had a go at me together, farmyard at the start of one of the climbs near the end of the Torr Murs

devonp

First 300 Audax
set off from Slane, great day for a spin, bit nippy in the morning in the shade..glad i brought my armwarmers, first control at Crossmaglen,
found the first climb a bit testy so got off 2/3 way up sat down and admired the view and enjoyed the sun..and the isolation..had a few jellybabies
grand on the descent to Dowra and a nice break and a chat well warmed up by now
then the second climb felt much better..it has a long lead in to the main section..roads got narrower and more gravely and plenty of sheep about too but stunning views as it opened up near the top, descent was ok, got warned about some bad sections from the control at Dowra,
another stop for food at Ballinamore, then plenty more stops (for me anyway)
on the way back to Slane.
garmin quit after Oldcastle(Gomadic didn't arrive in time and i forgot the garmin cable for the Maplin powerbank..fail to prepare...)
really enjoyed it and the chats with Dermott from Multyfarnham, Neil and the others in the group just in front of me (Dans group!!)
thanks to Pat for organising and picking the route and the sunshine
305Km, started 600am finished 8.25pm 3,000+m of Up

NamelessPhil

Nice ride! I've ridden the 3 Provinces which covers much the same ground. Leitrim is a fantastic looking county from the saddle of a bicycle.

ford2600

@devonp super ride.

I'd imagine if you slowed down a little, say from 27 odd to 26ish, keep stops shorter you could get back the same time but feel fresher at end.

Do that or similar and you'd be well able for multi days.

ford2600

The Brown Stuff 400. Toughest one so far. 440km on told, one long solo ride, 20h 30m door to door. Joined route in Clonmel and rode it from there.

Some real pretty roads, even if most were up or down.

Off of the bucket list, wont be repeated!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1014556

paul a newman

horse of a man ! that's the toughest event on the Audax calendar, not many people do sub 22 hrs

ford2600

paul a newman wrote: »

horse of a man ! that's the toughest event on the Audax calendar, not many people do sub 22 hrs

Thanks Paul. I cheated Paul and turned south at Ballyboden! I don't ride Audax for traffic lights and Dublin traffic!

Doc07

Going to attempt 300 for first time in 2 weeks. Group of about 10-12 doing a permanent route Dublin-Midlands loop. Lots of miles in the legs in the group but very few 200+ spins. I've done WW200 at 26-27 km/hr moving time but would 23km/hr be more realistic for 300km? ( only one 'real climb' and approx 1700m climbing total)
Any advice welcome.

ford2600

Doc07 wrote: »

Going to attempt 300 for first time in 2 weeks. Group of about 10-12 doing a permanent route Dublin-Midlands loop. Lots of miles in the legs in the group but very few 200+ spins. I've done WW200 at 26-27 km/hr moving time but would 23km/hr be more realistic for 300km? ( only one 'real climb' and approx 1700m climbing total)
Any advice welcome.

http://www.audaxireland.org/the-saddlebag/stepping-up-to-300k/

For me the primary battle is in the head. Your doing 6 50km, 10 30km cycles or whatever. Put the 300km out of your head. I had 90km done yesterday when descending to Old Loughlin; when Mount Leinster came into view. The thought that I'd have 300km in legs before I had to go up it was probably biggest challenge of day.

You will have a bad patch, but you will ride through it and feel fine again.

Keep breaks short and keep for 10km after big meal even slower, don't ask your body to break down a decent meal and go hard.

Once you drop pace audax is a non event aerobically, and winning the mental battle, comfort and being smart with nutrition are main obstacles.

Is the route mainly on main roads? That would bore me silly but in a big group it probably doesn't matter as much.

Day 2 or Day 3 of Celtic Knot would be lovely 1 day rides. Day 1 is 370km.

Edit: The 3 provinces is a nice route, tougher than it looks on the numbers. Constantly undulating. I only did 80km odd before spoke failure but I nearly had front derailleur worn!!! Lovely quite roads though

Wishbone Ash

ford2600 wrote: »

The Brown Stuff 400. Toughest one so far. 440km on told, one long solo ride, 20h 30m door to door. Joined route in Clonmel and rode it from there.

Some real pretty roads, even if most were up or down.

Off of the bucket list, wont be repeated!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1014556

Savage stuff ford2600. Just wondering how you worked it time-wise. Did you start early in the morning or in the evening and do the over-night bit earlier in the ride?

ford2600 wrote: »

....You will have a bad patch, but you will ride through it and feel fine again...

As well as running out of steam, the bad patch is usually accompanied by everything else seemingly going wrong - sore wrists/neck/arse. But, as ford2600 says, it will pass and the soreness in various body parts also seems to disappear with it. I've never had a bad patch that I didn't come out of (except on one occasion where I became ill during the ride and had to be rescued - even then I managed to go on for another 40k before the team car arrived).

ford2600

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Savage stuff ford2600. Just wondering how you worked it time-wise. Did you start early in the morning or in the evening and do the over-night bit earlier in the ride?

As well as running out of steam, the bad patch is usually accompanied by everything else seemingly going wrong - sore wrists/neck/arse. But, as ford2600 says, it will pass and the soreness in various body parts also seems to disappear with it. I've never had a bad patch that I didn't come out of (except on one occasion where I became ill during the ride and had to be rescued - even then I managed to go on for another 40k before the team car arrived).

It says something of our culture around drink but the biggest decision with when to start was trying to guess what time it'd be safe to go through Clonmel. Figured 5 so left house about 4.20am. Home at 12.50am. Slow pace but total stopped time was exactly an hour.

Luckily enough I didn't meet the only 3 lads in O Keeffes who didn't get a ride/fight on the Fethard road ☺.

The roads picked to avoid N81 in both directions are magic.

paul a newman

What ? you mean you can get a row as well as a ride in O Keeffes, am on my way....

Planet X

The Long Heron / 5 Aqueducts.
Talk to me

Surly Disc Trucker, 47mm tyres.
Audax Bike 25mm tyres.
It would seem to be more suited to the bigger tyred bike?
Is there much grassy / gravelly canal bank.
I've ridden the Grand Canal, not all, on the bigger tyres and the sections surfaces change so much.

smacl

Possibly depends a lot on the weather for the preceding week. If it's been dry, you'll get along the canals on most bikes. If it has been lashing, tyres that can deal with mud will mean less or no walking. Couldn't cycle the section coming into Sallins on slick 32c marathon supremes earlier this year in the mud, done it no bother on 25c Durano plus the previous summer after dry weather.

devonp

Planet X wrote: »

The Long Heron / 5 Aqueducts.
Talk to me

hopefully i can do this year after whimping out last yr , weather was foul,
i think i'll try the commuter; Specz ct hardtail MTB with 38c(but run as 35's)
often commute on the Royal to leixlip thru the deep sinking(fun bit)
my concern is the road parts on the MTB and lack of hand position options??
(i'd like to detour at confey to do the Rye river/water aqueduct and make it 6!! but then i'd miss leixlip hill up by the church:P

ford2600

devonp wrote: »

Planet X wrote: »

The Long Heron / 5 Aqueducts.
Talk to me

hopefully i can do this year after whimping out last yr , weather was foul,
i think i'll try the commuter; Specz ct hardtail MTB with 38c(but run as 35's)
often commute on the Royal to leixlip thru the deep sinking(fun bit)
my concern is the road parts on the MTB and lack of hand position options??
(i'd like to detour at confey to do the Rye river/water aqueduct and make it 6!! but then i'd miss leixlip hill up by the church:P

Don't mind doing them flat routes with the way you climb... take the 19th of and drive west..

and do this on 20th...
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/9615652

Stuart is one nice man, but he is an evil fcuker with a mouse and ridewithgps.com. Stunning looking route though

Carawaystick

devonp wrote: »

my concern is the road parts on the MTB and lack of hand position options??
P

I use something like these http://bbbcycling.com/bike-parts/bar-ends/BBE-07
you have 2 extra positions on the bar ends, the bit away from you and the curved bit.

I sometimes (into a headwind on the flat) grab the handlebars directly beside the stem to give 4 positions on the mtb when on the road.

paul a newman

Planet x, its a nice route, i've done it on 28s, but would prefer 32/35 s, you are on roads for sections and in fairness to Ron the off road sections are pretty good. Knowing you, I would imagine that you'll get round in the front group in about 10 hrs, weather being reasonable etc. The two things that I'd recommend are comfortable bars and saddle, this is not a route to break in a saddle, the constant pounding on the hole can be tough ! it's a day for Brooks or an Arione I think.

devonp

Long Heron / 6 Aqueducts

did this today with 4 others incl Ronnie the organiser. mostly off road on the Royal canal and Grand canal towpaths. really nice day for it and i used my hardtail MTB, i was the only one with susp, (wimp that i am), 2 other cross bikes and two steel road bikes i think.
in the description it says

"At about 83.5 k there is a track parts of which are Roubaix like in so far as it seems to be an access road to an adjacent wooded area. The subsidence has been back filled with large stone fill. You will fairly clatter over it. Keep you eyes open for it."

this section was just a track filled in with Very Large Stone and lots of builders rubble incl cinder blocks and pieces of concrete waste so that the two local bogs could be accessed by turf cutting machinery , never came across anything like it , you can't see it on Google ..I'm sure the poor Google camera was put out of action and the car prob as well!! an experience! its on my route from 87.3 to 89.7 for those wanting a challenge..you might want to bring a disposable bike or a tank

thanks to Ronnie for organising and the others for the chat and fun

"i'm all shook up"

https://www.strava.com/activities/691202678

Carawaystick

devonp wrote: »

Long Heron / 6 Aqueducts


"At about 83.5 k there is a track parts of which are Roubaix like in so far as it seems to be an access road to an adjacent wooded area. The subsidence has been back filled with large stone fill. You will fairly clatter over it. Keep you eyes open for it."

this section was just a track filled in with Very Large Stone and lots of builders rubble incl cinder blocks and pieces of concrete waste so that the two local bogs could be accessed by turf cutting machinery , never came across anything like it , you can't see it on Google ..I'm sure the poor Google camera was put out of action and the car prob as well!! an experience! its on my route from 87.3 to 89.7 for those wanting a challenge..you might want to bring a disposable bike or a tank

Saw photos of that bit from OA who did it on a fixie...

smacl

Carawaystick wrote: »

Saw photos of that bit from OA who did it on a fixie...

Saw them on FB, I for one would be walking that bit.

cdaly_

Did the Antrim 300 yesterday. 300km in the mountains with 20 hours to complete the route...

A tough day. Up at 02:50 to get a bus from Dublin. Got to the 06:00 start with 5 min to spare.

Off out the road and within 10 minutes I was climbing. This set the tone for the rest if the day. Weather was colder than recently, chilly descents in dark first thing were a foretaste of the last 100k.

Vicious climbs were followed by equally vicious descents where I had to hang on the brakes. Traffic was a pleasure. Lots of it but everyone hung back until it was safe to pass and left plenty of room.

Amazing scenery all over and so many bays and inlets to route around.

I had made good time to Cushendun, 12:30 though it took 30 minutes to get fed. The next 12km over Torr Head took 90 minutes leaving me behind on time. I had to make pace to make Bushmills at 16:00. Halfway around in exactly 10 hours. At least that was the hillier half... Ha!

Made good time on the loop from Ballycastle to Portstewart and back to Ballycastle at 200k, just 5min ahead of the close of control. Picked up a can of coke for later. Headed off into the evening and the last 100k. Little hints like 'Caution on descent' on the route sheet didn't bode well for making time. Neither did the very pretty but slanty Glendun where the road went ever upwards for what seemed like hours.

As the night came on under clear skies, the stars came out in all their glory though it was difficult to look up with a stiff neck. Temperatures dropped and, despite multiple layers, the descents got very chilly. I was in shorts so my legs got very cold and then had to work again.

In the meantime, my GPS which had given me an eta at belfast of 00:30 at 200k started pushing that outwards so that, by the top of Glendun eta was 01:30. That was most of the heavy climbing done but plenty of rolling 'B' roads yet to cover with the eta creeping up all the time.

Much time was spent in calculation of how fast I needed to descend to make up for 5-10kph ascending. Descents were getting even colder now and I was welcoming the climbs 'cos I'd get to warm up a bit. At one point the eta went to 02:02!

A bit of TT over the last 20k pulled back the time while the traverse of Belfast's pubs out time was 'interesting'.

I got to the finish at 01:58, woke the organiser who was asleep in his car waiting for me, handed in my brevet card and set off to catch my 02:30 bus home. In order to allow for possible issues, I had booked the 06:30 bus 'you can get an earlier bus if there are empty seats'. I got to the bus station to discover a crowd waiting for the bus. Driver looks around, says 'You won't get on, have to wait for the 06:30'. Feck!

Turned out there were spare seats so I got on and back to Dublin at 04:30. Feckin freezing now, shivered for the 30min spin home and into bed by 05:30 for 12 hours sleep.

That's my Four Provinces completed...

ford2600

cdaly_ wrote: »

That's my Four Provinces completed...

There is a discipline in getting that. You picked two handy rides for Munster/Ulster:eek:

Organiser is some man, rides all his own events and then stays at finish. None of his events are anything but brutal in terms of climbing.

I did it last year on a very similar day; for two lads it was their first audax ride they both have RTTY's & 4 Provinces collected since, along with one doing WAWA and a 5000km award.

I was jealous of everyone doing it Saturday, would gladly have swapped 550xp for genesis!

cdaly_

ford2600 wrote: »

There is a discipline in getting that. You picked two handy rides for Munster/Ulster:eek:

Mick Byrne for Leinster and Adrian Nealon for Connaught were no flatter. I had come up with the idea of doing a hilly four provinces already and then my Ulster options were taken away when Around Down was cancelled.

The scariest bit of the whole thing was at around 00:30 with around 34km to go and the GPS giving me an eta of 02:02 and thinking "Oh crap! Missing out on a four provinces by going over time in the last 30km of a 1000km FP and having to do it all again next year!"...

ILIKEFOOD

thinking about doing The Faceless Monk in November, it would be my second Audax, did Ardattin last year - have a 160,175 and 200 under my belt this year along with weekend 100Kish spins so not too worried about distance,

concerned about this point of note on the event page 'Those using narrow, semi slick high pressure tyres take note.' re road surface. Is this a 'be cautious' warning, or don't consider it with that set-up?

Thanks!

cdaly_

Should be fine. The organiser is fond of narrow boreens and occasional dirt tracks but you should get through. Plenty of riders use skinny tyres.

It's a lovely spin on lovely quiet roads, recommended.

NamelessPhil

Yes it's a nice route when you're not doing it in the pissing rain for ten hours like last year. There is one notable barely paved section after Ardee when you swing right up an unmarked boreen.

NamelessPhil

I'll be tackling the Pink Elephant on Saturday. It'll be my first time on a bike around the roads of West Cork and I'm really looking forward to it. Do any Cork natives have a suggestion for somewhere for breakfast because my hotel doesn't do one before I leave? The route is here Pink Elephant

ford2600

NamelessPhil wrote: »

I'll be tackling the Pink Elephant on Saturday. It'll be my first time on a bike around the roads of West Cork and I'm really looking forward to it. Do any Cork natives have a suggestion for somewhere for breakfast because my hotel doesn't do one before I leave? The route is here Pink Elephant

The Oriel Hotel in Ballincollig might do a pre 8am breakfast.

Although the only "easy" bit of route is first 50km at which is the first control. There is a friendly but basic cafe on left hand side in Ballymakera/Ballyvourney about 1.5km before left turn for Coolea/Coum.

Enjoy great route if anything but easy

NamelessPhil

I certainly haven't described the route as "easy", the organiser has described it as like a Cork version of the Mick Byrne with a bit less climbing. It'll be grand if I've got the legs on the day.

ford2600

Rode Pink Elephant yesterday along with 13 others I think (including NamelessPhil whom I didn't meet do to my habitual early start and her habitual late one ).

A bike ride in great countryside with very quite roads in great company; my 7th time riding it and probably the most enjoyable.

Cold at start (maybe 5C or so) but dry and after sunrise it was a magical day meandering through west Cork. The descent from highest point of day down to Gougan Barra was highlight with lowlands covered in a fog while the uplands basked in the autumn sun.

Got bet at my own game yesterday; have a habit of saluting/meeting loads of people I know when out on long cycles. A west Cork gent wiped the floor with me yesterday, had to be pulled out of every shop we stopped while discussing at length county finals, death marriages etc etc.

Thanks again to organizer and other riders for a great day