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General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Dave W on May 16, 2022, 07:56:16 AM
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this weekend was the longest ride I have ever done.
It was the Bryan Chapman Memorial ride 2022. it starts in Chepstow and Diagonally works its way up to North Wales with the turnaround point at the Menai Bridge, total distance 600km (372miles) a lot of climbing 8469m,
I've always wanted to do this event but was put off by the whole Audax what is it, etc.
Mr Madely planted the seed last about PBP and how to qualify so within the same day me liking a challenge I'd join Audax UK learn some new phrases and signed up for 6 audaxes all varying in distance.
for PBP you need to do the Super Randonneur which is awarded to you for completing these BRM events
200, 300, 400, 600km
after Sunday I will have gained my Super Randonneur
the time from these events then dictates what your start time and the total time will roughly be for PBP
to enter these events you need to be an Audax UK member and then find a ride online. the distance can be from 100km plus most riders should be able to do 100km to 300km no problem. the price varies from £5 up.
Audax is about the total time and not the 'strava' paused time
the Bryan Chapman ride cost £65 this is the most I've paid so far for an audax event. this includes 5 control stops with food and a place to sleep at 235miles in the youth hostel.
here is the route I followed https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20922029
Controls at Bronllys (72), Llanidloes (138), Dolgellau (King's YH 203), Menai (292), Dolgellau (King's YH 374), Aberhafesp (439) and Llandrindod Wells (492), plus 3 information controls (Machynlleth (170), Harlech (231) and Pen-y-pas (267) (going N to/thru Llanberis)
Rode up Friday to the Severn Bridge and stayed in the hotel at the services.
early start riding across the bridged at 5.20am where I was unlucky to get a rear puncture from a tiny piece of glass. fixed and off to the start where I think there were roughly 80 riders. got my brevet card and rode back to the car over the 7 bridge and pump my tyre up to make sure I had the right pressure.
Back to the start where it was 6:40am setting off me. found a good rhythm and was at the first and then was going past a lot of riders.
part of thee route was on the A40 and A470 headphones in to help ignore the traffic, was glad to turn off this onto quieter roads
I've ridden some of the route from the other way so most of the route was new to me in places.
the climbs into Machynlleth were fun with the heat and there is some nice scenery there where you can see the start of the Mach flying loop unfortunately there were no jets. though there was about 100 Caterhan 7s driving through.
The next stop Dolgellau which is the king's youth hostel for lunch. then through Barmouth onto Harlech and past Porthmadog.
it's at this point you start to see all the mountains North Wales has to offer and the thought of going up alongside Snowden
on the Llanberis pass only done this the other way. control at the top where we had to write down how much day parking cost. £40 for the day :o
the descent down the pass was amazing not a single car so made use of the whole road.
onto the Menai bridge for my next feed. the sun was now going down. roughly 50 miles then back to the kings which seemed like a long section - going past Porthmadog again I passed some riders who were on their way up to Llanberis and the Menai.
at the hostel some more food -theme going on here where I question am I riding or in an eating competition. it was 1am felt like I could ride through. took the decision to have a break. 2hrs in a bed in a dormitory of 7 people who were all snoring.
then one hour of faffing for breakfast to set off again at 4am. where some riders were only just getting there from Menai.
out of the kings onto another climb Penmawddwy Stud met with a stunning sunrise and where you feel pretty remote in the North.
this is where I had my first low point and it felt like a drag to Newtown where I was actually looking forward to Mcdonalds being open and thinking of a chocolate milkshake
there was one other rider already in there. it's at this point where you don't really feel like talking. some more riders turned up to make 7 of us. it then turned into a game of who is going to leave first.
The next stop was 30ish miles away Llandrindod wells where I knew there was a Greggs.
now on the final leg 68 miles. which was long and with a headwind. was nice to get onto roads that I knew and what was coming up next.
Full riding time was 33hrs 11minutes.
I would highly recommend this ride but of course not has the first attempt without gradually working up to that distance.
glad I've got today off. feeling ok bit tired and washed out
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Fantastic effort!!
Do we call you Mr Super Randonneur from now on? ;D
I need a new challenge, think this sounds just the ticket. Think I'll be best at the eating competition
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Great write up - painted a good picture of what it must have been like!
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Great achievement, I doubt the amount eaten would be as much as the calories burnt on that trip!
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Enjoyed reading that. Cheers Dave. Note to self: don’t do Audax events (even though I like the sound of all the eating 😋)!