London-Edinburgh-London 2013: The thread

[frank9755]

Passed 10,000km on the bike for the year this morning, which was meant to be my big hairy audacious goal for the year. Unfortunately, bikejournal competitiveness has lead me to peak a bit early. Now 13,000km looks eminently doable.

Reading this I thought I'd see how many kms I'd done this year. Just done some quick sums and I am at just over 12,500km in 2010.
That's a higher figure than normal as I had a few months of work over the summer and did three long tours.

The rate will tail off a bit now as I am back to work (although commuting gives me 100 miles a week which helps!), but I'm aiming to do a couple of audaxes a month - including the odd back-to-back weekend with maybe a 200km and a 100km combined.

Having done that amount of cycling my improvements in fitness and speed since the start of the year have been marked. I've lost 10kg in weight which has helped (although trousers don't fit very well now!). I did my first time trial in March and took 1h 18min 45 sec to do 25 miles. I've managed to get that down steadily over the summer and last Sunday I did 1:02:28.

This Saturday I've got a 200km audax and will see what sort of time is now comfortable for that distance.

Frank

 

[redjedi]

Reading this I thought I'd see how many kms I'd done this year. Just done some quick sums and I am at just over 12,500km in 2010.
That's a higher figure than normal as I had a few months of work over the summer and did three long tours.

The rate will tail off a bit now as I am back to work (although commuting gives me 100 miles a week which helps!), but I'm aiming to do a couple of audaxes a month - including the odd back-to-back weekend with maybe a 200km and a 100km combined.

Having done that amount of cycling my improvements in fitness and speed since the start of the year have been marked. I've lost 10kg in weight which has helped (although trousers don't fit very well now!). I did my first time trial in March and took 1h 18min 45 sec to do 25 miles. I've managed to get that down steadily over the summer and last Sunday I did 1:02:28.

This Saturday I've got a 200km audax and will see what sort of time is now comfortable for that distance.

Frank

Not bad Frank That would explain why I struggled to keep pace with you back from Richmond Park on Saturday.

Luckily I had the crafty plan of getting a puncture to help save face

 

[zigzag]

Having done that amount of cycling my improvements in fitness and speed since the start of the year have been marked. I've lost 10kg in weight which has helped (although trousers don't fit very well now!). I did my first time trial in March and took 1h 18min 45 sec to do 25 miles. I've managed to get that down steadily over the summer and last Sunday I did 1:02:28.

that's a massive improvement Frank! have you eaten any spanish meat lately? did you use regular race bike or aero/tt bike? keep up training over the winter and you'll be flying next year!

 

[frank9755]

Well I did my 200km audax in 5 minutes under the 10 hours!

I guess that was the target. I had hoped I would be a bit quicker than that but it did take time. I did have a couple of significant mechanical stops and also three leisurely cafe stops. The computer said it was 8 hours of riding time which feels about right.

I was most pleased that I felt pretty good at the end (compared to my first one in June on a less hilly course when I was a wreck with 40 miles to go!). I could have carried on further, and have been riding every day since.

Next time I might cut back the stops and see if I can get round a bit quicker. I think it does depend on having people to ride with, though,after the group breaks up 20 or 30km in. I was lucky to find someone who was doing pretty much my pace and we rode together virtually all the way. I think that is worth perhaps 15 minutes in time.


No Contador burgers, Zig! My time trials were on my time trial bike with aerobars, etc. At the start of the season I had been using what is now my commuting bike for both TTs and audax - but now have expanded the bike stable!

 

[SteelRex]

This past weekend I completed my third double century for the season qualifying for the California Triple Crown for my second year. The Solvang Autumn Double Century was not the most challenging course with something under 10,000 feet of ascent over about 201 miles. I was pleased with my time of 15 hours, 45 minutes (14 hours in the saddle), but I’m still spending too much time at the control points (rest stops). Double centuries here in the states are a little like a brevet, but with more support along the way (i.e. less emphasis on self sufficiency). Next season, my goal is to complete a brevet series up to 600k. By 2012, I’ll look to qualify and complete my first 1200k.

 

[ianrauk]

Dunno if anyone else has mentioned. But Audax UK have put the following up on the site

If you are interested in riding the 2013 edition of LEL then please provide us with your email address and we will contact you nearer the time.​

Email: info@londonedinburghlondon.com​

 

[Arch]

I think I saw that and mentioned it a while back. But good to have a reminder. I'm sure I emailed them to get on the list.

 

[SteelRex]

When I submitted my e-mail address (several weeks ago) I don’t recall getting any sort of confirmation.

 

[Arch]

When I submitted my e-mail address (several weeks ago) I don’t recall getting any sort of confirmation.

No, I don't think I did either. Presumably they just don't confirm...

I'll double check I sent the email, and that I didn't get a reply.

 

[ianrauk]

It does say they will contact you nearer the time....so I suppose that will be 2013 we should get a reply back

 

[willm]

I eamiled them and didn't get a response. Glad I didn't get special treatment.

 

[yello]

Well if it's anything like last time , the contact via email will be very sporadic. I think they/she processed emails in batches... every 2nd Sunday evening or something equally as bizarre!

But I think it safe to say that some changes have been/will be made for this time re communication (amongst other things) so finger's crossed that every knows what the score is in plenty of time. And there is still oodles of time so fret not.

 

[steveindenmark]

Well I have added my name to Sue`s list so I had better get a bike and start practicing.

Having never ridden any distance at all I am pleased to say that I am following in the footsteps of Andy Allsop, except I will remember my shoes for the start.

I am depending on sheer bloody mindedness to get me through this.

Steve

 

[PalmerSperry]

Well I have added my name to Sue`s list so I had better get a bike and start practicing.

I've got no real idea what bike I'll be doing LEL on, other than that it won't be either of the racebike or recumbent I've got at the moment!

Having never ridden any distance at all I am pleased to say that I am following in the footsteps of Andy Allsop, except I will remember my shoes for the start.

Saying that probably just means you'll forget something else instead! At a 200 I attempted earlier this year, I had a last minute realisation that my mobile had no credit on it so I quickly did an online credit of €20 ... and then left my mobile on the table next to my computer!

 

[DrMekon]

Anyone else looking beyond next season yet? I am pretty sure I'll do a SR, and certain I'll do a 200, 300 and 600. However, looking ahead to 2012, I am thinking about doing a 1000; probably the permed Hailsham one that's being discussed on YACF ATM, Looking at strategies, I am seeing talk of 470km then 270km then 260km. This numbers look scary from back here, I have to say.