Audax 400k

[andy slow coach]

Below is an account of my Audax 400 k - Willesden, which I did in 2003 (back when I was fitter!!)

AUDAX Willesden CC 400k Wednesday 21st May 2003

by Andy slow coach

Warning - not such a good idea after seven 12 Hour night shifts!


The ride started at 12:00 Wednesday but I had been awake since 13:00 on Tuesday and then done my last night shift at work, so by the time we were off I had been awake for 23 HOURS.

The start was at Ruislip, London and 9 riders and myself were ready for the off. We headed along the A40 towards the junction with the M40 then went down to SLOUGH to pick up the A4 (west). The A4 was to be our road for around the next 12 Hours! We rode as a group nearly all the way to our first control point in HUNGERFORD (55miles/15:42) where we refueled at a service station and set off towards our next control point in BATH via MARLBOROUGH, CHIPPENHAM.

As we headed down into BATH it started to drizzle but not enough to worry about wet weather gear. The group split up as we headed into a fairly brisk head wind, but all met up at Safeway in BATH (97.5miles/19:00). After a good feed and coffee to stay awake it was off to retrace our route, back up the A4, up Box Hill which was a bit of a drag but now we had the wind behind us so that helped a bit.

Somewhere between CALNE and MARLBOROUGH it started to get dark so it was on with the lights, and onto our next control at NEWBURY (148miles/22:56). It was a long slog up towards our next stop at DENHAM but with the wind on our side and my very efficient lights we were clocking speeds between 18-22 MPH along pitch black roads, and we made good time arriving at DENHAM at 02:15 (190miles).

We now set off via an INFO Control near GT.MISSENDEN to our next control at THAME (218miles/05:36), unfortunately one of the guys I was riding with (Brian) had a puncture at around 04:30 and it was still dark with no street lights in sight for miles, so I stopped to help Brian while the other three in our little group pressed on. After fixing his tyre we set off and no more than 4 miles down the road it was my turn with a flat rear tyre.

Brian and I had a quick coffee at THAME then pressed on towards the finish, this turned out to be the hardest 37 miles I have ever had to cycle, but with the help of Brian lending me a wheel to follow and much needed moral support we managed to continue to the last INFO control at ASTON ROWANT then up another very long climb (1.5miles) towards STOKEN CHURCH, through WEST/HIGH WYCOMBE, DENHAM, RUISLIP MANOR to the FINISH (255miles/09:23).

The PBP qualification time for this ride is under 27Hours, so after 21Hours 23 Minutes we finished with 5 Hours 37 Minutes to spare. Actual time on the bike riding was 17 Hours 17 Minutes / an average of 14.8 MPH. Which for me added up to a very sore rear, legs, knees, wrists, arms and shoulders. So once back at the car and after a BIG FRY UP in a greasy spoon I collapsed in the car and finally got some much-needed sleep after staying awake for nearly 46HOURS!

Did I enjoy it? Not while riding the last 30 odd miles but looking back YES it was great. Would I do it again? Not sure! Is the 600k next on the list? Maybe.


This was my last long Audax, I did a few 100k and 200k after this but my fitness is nowhere what it was then!

 

[neptune]

Hi Andy, I have read both of your posts, covering both of your Audaxes. {What is the plural of Audax, is it Audaxes, or audaxi or something like that?} Both stories gave me an insight into the sheer mental and physical determination necessary to compete in events of that kind. You must have been exceptionally fit at the time, and dedicated a lot of time to training. The furthest I ever travelled on a bicycle in a day was 45 miles. That was last August at the age of 67.
I think also that you need to be a competitive sort of person. I never was. I have always been content to do my own thing , in my own time, at my own pace. That does not mean that I admire your achievement any the less. I take my hat off to you, well done.

 

[andy slow coach]

Hi Neptune,
Thanks for your comments, I was not 'fit' by a long shot and although not competitive as such I would not want to be last.
I did try 'time trials' at my local cycling club but I was rubbish.
I've not cycled seriously for about 5 years now, but with the cost of keeping two cars on the road I'm looking to get an ebike to make my 24 mile ride to work and back a bit easier and to help get a bit of fitness back then sell one of our cars.
I think I need a bike without a throttle as id just get lazy and ride it like I ride my motorbike!

 

[grldtnr]

the plural for Audax is audax!!,

I've ridden a few in my time, not to denigerate your efforts Andy slow coach, but it is all a matter of taking your time , even at the minimum speed the distances for the shorter rdes are acheivable , that said never had the time to complete the longer audax the biggest one I did was a 4ook, that finished 2 miles short of the return to the start point!!!

Hi Andy, I have read both of your posts, covering both of your Audaxes. {What is the plural of Audax, is it Audaxes, or audaxi or something like that?} Both stories gave me an insight into the sheer mental and physical determination necessary to compete in events of that kind. You must have been exceptionally fit at the time, and dedicated a lot of time to training. The furthest I ever travelled on a bicycle in a day was 45 miles. That was last August at the age of 67.
I think also that you need to be a competitive sort of person. I never was. I have always been content to do my own thing , in my own time, at my own pace. That does not mean that I admire your achievement any the less. I take my hat off to you, well done.