My First Audax

 The main thing that I have been doing during lockdown, other than remote working, is getting out on my bike.  This built up my fitness to the point that I was able to do my first Audax.  Not a big one, only about 160k, but more than enough to start with.

For those of you who do not know, an audax is similar to a sportive.  However, where a sportive will have feed stations and helpful road signs saying go this way.  An audax has a start base.  You do not have maps or similar.  It has a gpx file that you can download onto your phone or gps computer.  You can then follow this on a map app.  You ride and turn up at checkpoints, which are signs with a number written on them.  You take note of the number on a score card.  In addition to this you have a card that tells you when to turn and what road you should be on.  Useful, but this is all about the electronics.  You have ten and a half hours to complete.

I found out about these events from YouTube.  More specifically, Katie Kookaborough.  A youtuber who does stupid millage.  Typically, she will do 200k, but also does 400 and 600k events.  So I used a lot of her advice on how to set up for the event.

A lot of this I knew already, since I have done trailquests (Mountain bake orienteering).  However, some things I got from GCN and other helpful sites. So, what advice can I give and what can I tell you?

This shows my bike in roughly the configuration that I rode with, minus the handle bar bag and phone holder.

First is the bike set up.  I ride a Giant Defy 1, with 105 gearing.  This is not a race bike, but has been designed with Sportives in mind.  Rather than extreme race geometry, it is a bit more comfort orientated.  Also, the rear cassette has a good range of 12-30.  This means that it can peddle comfortably and do a good job on hills.  It has a compact chainset, which means two cogs.  Overall a nice all rounder.  I originally bought it as a commuter, but have had fun with it just going out for a ride. I have set up shimano peddles to fit with Look cleats.  Originally I had spds, since I was used to these from my mountain biking.  However, over long distances, I tended to get hot spots.  Sore feet at the point where the spd joined the shoe.  The look peddles are larger and distribute the pressure on the foot.  So comfortable over long distances.  Tire presure was set to 110 psi.

I have a tool bag for the back.  This contains a multi tool, tire leavers, a chain breaker and a 10 speed power link.  

In my top tube bag I have a spare tube and a pack of scabs (Puncture repair patches that are pre glued.  All you do is peel of the backing and slap it on the hole.  A cheap bike lock.  I got it for a whole £2 and it will do for popping into the shops.  A debit card and a £10 note.  I also carried a battery recharging unit and the cable for my phone.  I had lost my cycle computer.  It died, so I got a handlebar mount for my phone and used a map called Komoot.  A very good map navigation app that is free and allowed me to download the gpx file.  The battery pack allowed me to navigate for a full 10 hrs, as the phone died after 40 miles.  The other thing in this bag was munchies.  A whole pack of jelly babies, three energy jells and a sports snack bar. I also had a zip bag of SIS Go powder.

In the handlebar bag I had a coat and a warmer set of gloves.

On the bike itself I have a cycle pump, a Moon rear light and two 1 ltr bottles of drink, both loaded with SIS Go.  This is a high carb, about 98% sports drink.  So as you can tell by my load out so far, I am taking fuel and breakdown seriously.

For myself, I wore a set of fingerless gloves, a cycling top, with full length front zip, a set of cycling shorts, cycling shoes (Lake) and a Kask Mojito helmet.  In my pockets I had two zip bags of jelly babies, two energy jells, a sports bar and car keys.

Soooo, the event itself.  I turned up at the sports hall and parked up where directed.  Assembled the bike.  Munched a banana (Potasium, good for the start of this sort of thing).

At the checkpoint I was given my turn by turn guide (A sheet of paper in a clear zip bag).  I asked for a spare zip bag.  In case it rained it would keep my phone dry.  Once the start time was written on the card (I was half an hour late starting at 0830) away I went.

The previous year I had gone on a Sportive organized by the same club.  It was only 60 miles, but it started off a bit cloudy.  It turned into a scorcher and I had not suntan lotioned.  Big mistake.  Over 6 hrs in the saddle.  Think lobster. So I suntanned up before leaving this time.

Heading off I felt good.  In fact, I felt good all of the way around until the final 10k.  I did about 30 miles before stopping for munchies.  This took about 10 mins and had allowed my legs to recover a bit. Fortunately I was familiar with all the roads, as I had chosen my first event to be local.  That way, if I ran into trouble, I would know how to get home.  I stopped and chatted with another rider before hitting the road again.  I talked to another couple about 5 miles further on.  They seemed surprised that I had opted for 160 k first time out.  But I have been doing lots of riding and had done long distances as training.  OK, not 100 miles, but respectable runs.  

I also met the Treds cycle club on the run.  I thought that they were fellow competitors, but they were just out on a club run.  A bit slow, but it was the slow component of the club, with first timers.  We chatted and had a good laugh before I pealed off.

I was quite slow compared to other riders, but many of them were on the 100k route.  So I was looking at the long game.  I made it to the first checkpoint, but the checkpoint was not easy to find.  Fortunately it was close to a pub, so I took a picture of the pub sign before riding off.  Pretty easy riding.  The second checkpoint was more fortunate and easy to find.  Lots of cyclists milling about.  So One gave me an Eccles cake and we chatted before heading off.  A few miles later my phone started to die.  A quick look showed 5%.  So I plugged in the battery pack and it started to re-charge.  I left it in for the rest of the run.  For a £5 cheapie it worked well.

A bit later on I came across a rider I had met earlier.  Steve did not look happy and was thinking of quitting.  So I told him that what he needed was cake.  Since I knew the roads and went past Rutland water, I encouraged him until we could stop at the Rutland visitor area.  We both got large tea and a nice lemon cake.  Sat for a bit and chatted before setting off with both refreshed.

I stayed with Steve for the rest of the run and we just road, chatted and kept each other on target. We met another rider at the next check point.  A doctor who was just the same as us.  Out for the fun of it.  She did say she would ride with us for a bit.  We did, but she was much faster than us and left after a while.  Towards the last 20 miles I ran out of water.  Stopped at a pub and got a refill, topping up the Go powder into the bottle.  

The last 20 miles were a bit brutal and I needed to stop a couple of times.  However, I could not find the last checkpoint.  To be fair I didn't look too hard.  Just rode until I got back to the event building.  I was done in.  Trouble walking, the whole nine yards.  Also, I had trouble keeping warm, even though it was 15 degrees out.  I should have eaten more regularly I think.  Anyway.  10 hrs 14 mins total.  I gave Steve a lift to the train station and then went via the chippy.  Pie and chips had been on my mind for the last 30 miles.  It got me back.  

Anyway, when I got home and had lunch, a hot bath and early bed were in order.  I was creme crackered.

So what lessons were learnt?  I think I had prepared as well as I could, but should have been more regular on munchies, but other than that I had prepped enough.  I needed a new cycle computer, that was for sure.  Also, if I was going to do this over the winter, or the longer distances that happen over night, then I would need better lights.  Another thing that I would need is gearing that I can manage in the last 20 miles.  I was flagging and struggling with the hills, so I took Katies advice and looked at replacing my 12-30 cassette with an 11-40.  Its an mtb gear and would need a bit of fettling to upgrade.

Sooo, plastic moment time.  I did some research and got the Wahoo Roam bundle.  This has a speed, cadence and heart rate monitor, as well as the computer, that has a good mapping set up.  This will allow me to plan routes and do much more than I have been with just a phone  This is a great bit of kit and I love it already.

For the lights, because I do road and MTB, I did not want a specific road or mtb set up, but looked for a middle of the road set up.  Exposure Race 15 fitted the bill and would give me more than enough burn time for any events that I could think of.

My last change was to buy the larger cassette.  However, to make it work I would need a hanger extender and a new chain.  Easy enough to fit, but needed help indexing it from my LBS.  Only just fitted it.  However, it gives me much more spread.  The 11 gear means that I have to peddle harder in the top gear, but it means that I can increase my speed with a bit of training.  The 40 tooth gear means that I can pretty much tackle any hill, just spin the gears quickly and I will be up any hill that comes my way.  Many people might be a bit meh about this, but by spinning quickly I am using the same power as if I was grinding away in my old set up.  The difference being that it will save my legs, allowing me to go further without noodle legs at the end of the ride.

This shows the new cassette set up.  A bit of a monster, but the initial ride looked promising.

So yes.  I enjoyed doing the audax and was so impressed I hit the plastic to make the next one even better.

I will probably review my purchases in future, but for now, happy cycling.

Alex