Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
I have joined Audax UK and hope to have a go sometime in the next few months.
The advice I would like from you hardened audaxers is about comfort, I'm happy riding 100 miles
but am worried going to 300-400kms.
I run 25mm Gator hardshells on my best bike which goes around 10.5kgs
On my second bike I can fit 28-32mm tyres but 14kgs
Both are comfortable up to 100 but I have never ridden further and would be gratefull for any advice.
Besides making sure either/both bikes fit well enough to give you a decent position, comfort for extended rides will depend on good interfaces at the contact points. Will also depend on regular 'distance' riding to HTFU the primary contact point.
1) Find a saddle that you find comfortable, at the right height. Wear shorts/or longer which have a decent (one that you find comfortable) pad. Consider cream (I use Sudocrem, supply left over from the now not so small ones).
2) Make sure that your position front/rear is such that you can ride along resting one finger of each hand on the bars. If not the seat needs to go back (and may need to fit a shorter stem). A bit of padding on the key bits of bar (just behind the hoods) may be of benefit (and can do no harm). Gloves with some padding to protect the ulnar nerve, but you may have to put up with a bit of ulnar neuropathy after really long rides. I think this article is worth reading (by a guy with whom I drink with (after riding to the pub)). https://audaxing.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/hand-numbness-and-long-distance-riding/
3) Some riders have no problems with their feet. During longer rides in preparation for an end-to-end I sought to improve my feet's lot, and bought a pair of 'Superfeet' insoles. They were better than the stock shimano/specialised road shoe insoles (and I completed my 9-day LEJOG without hot/hurty foot, and other 1000+k rides since then).
Tyres are the single best suspension mechanism for a rider (other than the rider's body/legs/arms itself). Everyone has their opinions and since you invite ours, I would replace the 25mm tyres with a better Conti or other tyre (the model will depend on your priorities for weight, durability, grip, rolling resistance, puncture protection and cost). Over the last few years I've used GP4000SIIs, GP 4 Seasons (currently 10000+km on the front), Michelin Pro4 Service Course and Pro4 Endurance. You don't say what pressures you're using - I use this BQ article (attached) and its graph to inform mine (and measure the actual width of my tyre, not relying on the nominal width). GP4000s come up wide so a 28 comes up (at 90psi on 15mm internal rim width wheels) at 30+mm.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistanc...-2014-vs-continental-grand-prix-4-season-2015
As far as riding further is concerned, further than the 161+km you've ridden 'happily' already, I suggest you find a local 200, perhaps when the weather's a little warmer, and go and ride it, with others. People will be riding at a range of speeds and rides in company are more fun and seem shorter. And if you can do 200 in March, why not another in April and a 300 in May. Both bikes would seem fine for such rides with a preference for the lighter one if there's a fair bit of scenery to be enjoyed.
Finally, I have it on reasonable authority that woolly hats are good for blocking orifices.
HTH
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