Suitable for Audax?

[pkeenan]

Hello

I'm quite interested in doing the London Edinburgh London 2013 Audax ride. I'm just curious to know what bike I should use? (I've never done an audax, though I enjoy long distance cycling.)

My two bikes are my Thorn Nomad and my Specialized Allez. Instictively I would go for my Nomad, for the Rohloff, the reliability and the long term comfort. Though the Allez would be quick.

Would be grateful for any advice

pkeenan

 

[middleagecyclist]

Ooh. Can't advise on bikes but can I come too?

 

[pkeenan]

Ooh. Can't advise on bikes but can I come too?

But of course!!

 

[middleagecyclist]

But of course!!

Excellent! A new challenge to prepare for and plenty of time to do it.

I think I'll use my tourer, take off the front carrier and put skinnys on - maybe a pair of Durano Plus? Comfort and reliabilty. Will use a bar bag and a rack pack. I might even take the kick stand off!

Thought about doing some Audaxing for a while so no doubt will do a few shorter ones before the LEL. Looks to be 100ish miles per day for the LEL if you take the maximum time. I normally cover 60-85 miles per day on a fully laden trip and that's with leaving plenty of time to set up a tent and go to a pub, so hope to be up to it.

Should we get Rohloff Owners Club cycling tops for the event Number One?

 

[the snail]

Hello

I'm quite interested in doing the London Edinburgh London 2013 Audax ride. I'm just curious to know what bike I should use? (I've never done an audax, though I enjoy long distance cycling.)

My two bikes are my Thorn Nomad and my Specialized Allez. Instictively I would go for my Nomad, for the Rohloff, the reliability and the long term comfort. Though the Allez would be quick.

Would be grateful for any advice

pkeenan

Excellent! A new challenge to prepare for and plenty of time to do it.

I think I'll use my tourer, take off the front carrier and put skinnys on - maybe a pair of Durano Plus? Comfort and reliabilty. Will use a bar bag and a rack pack. I might even take the kick stand off!

Thought about doing some Audaxing for a while so no doubt will do a few shorter ones before the LEL. Looks to be 100ish miles per day for the LEL if you take the maximum time. I normally cover 60-85 miles per day on a fully laden trip and that's with leaving plenty of time to set up a tent and go to a pub, so hope to be up to it.

Should we get Rohloff Owners Club cycling tops for the event Number One?

I think the tourer would be well suited - comfort + lots of gears + granny gears, but the disadvantage would be excess weight, seeing as you won't be fully loaded. I'd be tempted to use the allez if the gearing was ok, you should be able to carry enough stuff, and make it comfortable. Either way you've got 2 years to practice and think about the bike - I think it will become a lot clearer once you've done some audaxes.

ps. It's quite a bit more than 100 miles/day, more like 180 I think

 

[middleagecyclist]

ps. It's quite a bit more than 100 miles/day, more like 180 I think

I quote from from the LEL Audax website

"London-Edinburgh-London (LEL) is a 1400km (850 miles) long distance endurance cycle event where riders navigate an unmarked course of challenging terrain between the two cities. The next event takes place between July 26th and 2nd August 2013"

Now I'm not sure what times it starts and finishes on the respective days so I have taken those days as full ones. By my count that is 8 days then. 850 (miles) divided by 8 (days) = 106.25 miles/day.

Were you thinking 180 km/day Snail?. If so my math does suggest 175 km would be the daily average required for an 8 day completion.

Still a challenge I think but one I am happy to reach for!

 

[middleagecyclist]

Just looked at the LEL website again. It is a little confusing. The banner dates at the top of the site state it takes place between 28 July and 2 August 2013 where the text on the site states 26 July to 2 August. Some further googling...i mean research suggests on previous LELs suggest a time limit of 116 hrs or 5 days.

Of course if it is over 5 days then 170 miles/day becomes the minimum daily average required to complete.

Would love a concrete answer from someone in the know.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I've been keen on the LEL for a while and done a bit of reading-up so can nearly, definitely tell you that it is five days.

I think the confusion arises because there are staggered starts and not full days at either end.

As it's been done on a fixie (no, really), a trike and a recumbent I'd say you good to go with whatever you have!

Now where did I put my Pennyfarthing...

 

[pkeenan]

I'm not in the know... However, I have read that it is a 850 mile route, to be completed in 4.5 days. So the daily mileage will be pretty high (190, if not more).

I agree that the tourer would probably be better suited. But the snail - you're right: 2 years is more than enough time to work it out.

I really don't know much more than when it is and how far. I'll have to investigate further and work up a training regime.

middleagedcyclist - I think I'll be doing the same as you luggage-wise: bar bag, rack pack, no front rack. Though think my Schwalbe Marathon Supremes would be ideal, so reckon I'll be sticking to them.

It makes more sense to be doing this on my tourer, especially as there'll be a lot of night riding and my Schmidt edulex light would be perfect.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I'm not in the know... However, I have read that it is a 850 mile route, to be completed in 4.5 days. So the daily mileage will be pretty high (190, if not more).

I agree that the tourer would probably be better suited. But the snail - you're right: 2 years is more than enough time to work it out.

I really don't know much more than when it is and how far. I'll have to investigate further and work up a training regime.

middleagedcyclist - I think I'll be doing the same as you luggage-wise: bar bag, rack pack, no front rack.

It makes more sense to be doing this on my tourer, especially as there'll be a lot of night riding and my Schmidt edulex light would be perfect.

OMG. What have I got myself into? Still 2 years to prepare.

Yep. Definitely the tourer. I've got an Edelux too and it looks like I'm going to need it!

 

[mcshroom]

My current plan is to use a tourer (Dawes Vantage) but that could very well change in the next two years.

The distance is a bit over 1400km, and the minimum speed is 12km/h from what I remember, which makes it about 116h or 4d20h total.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I think I'll use my tourer, take off the front carrier and put skinnys on - maybe a pair of Durano Plus? Comfort and reliabilty. Will use a bar bag and a rack pack. I might even take the kick stand off!

While I'm at it I will take the Axa Defender wheel lock off, swap the Tubus Logo rear rack for something lighter...maybe in titanium, change to a carbon seatpost, replace the Wellgo platform pedals with a pair of Look Keo's, get a lighter front rim (i'll have to keep the rear as it goes with the Rohloff) oh, and drop 20 Kg body weight!

 

[pkeenan]

While I'm at it I will take the Axa Defender wheel lock off, swap the Tubus Logo rear rack for something lighter...maybe in titanium, change to a carbon seatpost, replace the Wellgo platform pedals with a pair of Look Keo's, get a lighter front rim (i'll have to keep the rear as it goes with the Rohloff) oh, and drop 20 Kg body weight!

middleagecyclist - You're going flat out with your configurations! Good stuff! I don't think I'll be doing much of that kind of thing. I don't have a bar bag yet, nor a rack pack - so those are first on my agenda. But apart from that, just remove the front rack.