First audax in the morning.

[ComedyPilot]

IIRC there are maximum as well as minimum speeds for Audax, so in theory the 'rabbits' can't go too fast as the controls won't open for them till the alloted time, also the 'tortoises' (like me......) get our money's worth on the ride.

 

[Pikey]

Good, wasn't it! The wind on the way back really started to pick up after the second control, and we had to nurse back one of our group after he started cramping up. Just made it home before the heavens opened - 85 miles all in.

It was great!
Think we had a mild tail wind going out under some blue sky.
Then that storm rolled in, quite scary to hear the wind howling through pylons like that, then the hail on the a38.

 

[HorTs]

'tortoises' (like me......) get our money's worth on the ride.

I've heard them referred to as 'full value' riders.

 

[Banjo]

I like to get half an hour spare quite early in the ride so a mechanical problem or puncture wont leave me sweating like a race horse to get to the next control in time. Any time I make up after that is used for a leisurely breakfast stopping to take photos etc.

Audax for me is a day out on the bike with lots of like minded people . I will never finish first neither have I ever finished last . Thats plenty good enough for me.

 

[ColinJ]

I will never finish first neither have I ever finished last . Thats plenty good enough for me.

I finished Season of Mists 2011 joint last. That wasn't what hurt so much ... It was missing the famous post-ride spread because we were over 30 minutes outside the time limit! We managed to cadge a piece of cake and a coffee each before event HQ was locked up.

 

[Alun]

I finished Season of Mists 2011 joint last. That wasn't what hurt so much ... It was missing the famous post-ride spread because we were over 30 minutes outside the time limit! We managed to cadge a piece of cake and a coffee each before event HQ was locked up.

Yeah, sorry about that

 

[ColinJ]

Yeah, sorry about that

Ha ha - I thought I wouldn't mention your name, but if you are volunteering it ...

 

[Banjo]

I finished Season of Mists 2011 joint last. That wasn't what hurt so much ... It was missing the famous post-ride spread because we were over 30 minutes outside the time limit! We managed to cadge a piece of cake and a coffee each before event HQ was locked up.

So you had a bonus 30 minutes ride and still got cake and coffee.Sounds like a win win situation to me.

 

[ColinJ]

So you had a bonus 30 minutes ride and still got cake and coffee.Sounds like a win win situation to me.

It was a bit embarrassing to get back to find the organiser Chris Crossland loading his boot with the last of the goodies. We had to persuade him to extract a cake tin for us (or was it a packet of biscuits? ) and scrounge the dregs of the coffee before the washing up was done.

I felt sorrow for Alun because he had to drive home afterwards. I just nipped home, got changed, and was straight off to the shops to buy a Chinese takeaway!

 

[Pikey]

Turns out, someone described me as a "roadie" to my wingman in one of the controls.

I'm hoping because of my, ahem, cycling prowess, not because I look like an overweight wannabe lead guitarist who has spent too many late nights lugging amps around backstage.

Does this mean I need to sell my lush alu cannondale and club kit and get some steel in my life to fit in?!!!

I'm feeling an identity crisis coming on .

 

[phil_hg_uk]

It was a bit embarrassing to get back to find the organiser Chris Crossland loading his boot with the last of the goodies. We had to persuade him to extract a cake tin for us (or was it a packet of biscuits? ) and scrounge the dregs of the coffee before the washing up was done.

I felt sorrow for Alun because he had to drive home afterwards. I just nipped home, got changed, and was straight off to the shops to buy a Chinese takeaway!

What year was it you missed it @ColinJ ?

 

[Banjo]

Turns out, someone described me as a "roadie" to my wingman in one of the controls.

I'm hoping because of my, ahem, cycling prowess, not because I look like an overweight wannabe lead guitarist who has spent too many late nights lugging amps around backstage.

Does this mean I need to sell my lush alu cannondale and club kit and get some steel in my life to fit in?!!!

I'm feeling an identity crisis coming on .

Ride and wear what ever you like.

You will see everything on audax from Tweed jackets and welly boots to the latest Rapha stuff.

The common bond is an enjoyment of long rides and cake.

 

[ColinJ]

What year was it you missed it @ColinJ ?

Illness stopped play in 2012 and 2013 so I reckon it was 2011?

Ah - I just looked it up - yes, 2011. We were 15 minutes outside the time limit, and we actually got flapjack, fruitcake and parkin as well as tea and/or coffee!

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Illness stopped play in 2012 and 2013 so I reckon it was 2011?

Ah - I just looked it up - yes, 2011. We were 15 minutes outside the time limit, and we actually got flapjack, fruitcake and parkin as well as tea and/or coffee!

No I think it was 2011 you missed.

The 2011 ride was nice and warm and you are not on any of the pics I have, but 2012 was cold and in the end it actually snowed on the way back into HB and you are on the pics I have of us stopped stuffing our faces with magnums that @potsy bought.

 

[ColinJ]

No I think it was 2011 you missed.

The 2011 ride was nice and warm and you are not on any of the pics I have, but 2012 was cold and in the end it actually snowed on the way back into HB and you are on the pics I have of us stopped stuffing our faces with magnums that @potsy bought.

You are thinking of Spring Into The Dales, but I am talking about Season of Mists!

I did miss SITD 2011 with what I thought at the time was a chest infection, but now suspect might have been an earlier clotting problem. (I had the same kind of disabling 'snotless cold' several times before the big one finally got me.)