First of all came the most minor of problems. The steroid using thorn punctured my rear tube at the most inconvenient part of a fast descent. No problems sorting that. That was the first flat I'd had since I'd changed to my (new) winter tyres - Continental GP 4 Seasons (25mm), they've covered just shy of 2000 winter miles. I'd certainly have no hesitation in recommending those tyres.
Next up was very inconvenient - a snapped chain. Couldn't have happened at a more inopportune time. I was tailing a bunch of about 20 up a hill and a car was very patiently just tootling along behind us waiting for a safe place to pass. To the car behind it must have seemed that I inexplicably just stopped halfway up the hill and let everyone else ride off. Sodding chain. I pushed the bike into a driveway and set about removing the duff links and making my repair. Testament to the usual goodwill of the human race a chap came out of the house whose driveway I was sprawled on to offer tools and a hand wash should I need. I thanked him but had everything I needed. All the riders coming past me slowed to ask if I had everything I needed. I like that about cycling - camaraderie.
That was the end of my mechanicals for now, let me recollect on the ride. Well, this was only my second Audax and so far I've had polar opposites in terms of weather - torrential rain on Mr Pickwick's and beautiful sunshine on the Watership Down. Setting off in the dark I'd decided to take the more direct and less lumpy route there, mainly due to the fact that the A31 would have been properly gritted and the temperature was low enough for ice risk. That was a fail. Flat - yes. Exposed - oh my life yes. My heartrate was almost at race pace and I was struggling to maintain 14 miles an hour. A 40 mph headwind was a new one for me. By the time I'd arrived at the village hall in Kingsworthy I felt like I'd just done a 25mile TT. Just what you need when you've got another 150kms to go.
Waiting for the start I found it amusing that there was a long queue of gents waiting to use the toilet yet the ladies was free. Anyway, we shot off down the road and started a very enjoyable Audax. Groups split over the course of the first few miles and before long I was chatting bike waffle with some other riders. First checkpoint came and the brevet was stamped, coffee was drunk. New group of riders and more bike waffle. This time with some elevation, revealing this endless view.
For me views are probably the most rewarding part of a climb. Thank you English weather for allowing me this one. The second peak of the ride was not as gentle on the legs and my 25t cassette was not being friendly. We pressed on and more bike waffle was spoken, this time with a chap that I'd ride away from on the hills only to be reeled in on the flats. I ended up completing the ride with this guy and we enjoyed some of the amazing cakes that had been lovingly baked for our return.
I'm notoriously tight and one thing that always puts a smile on my face is value. On a usual 50 mile club run the coffee and cake stop usually comes in around the £5 mark. Audax's offer a much better value cycle. It was £6.75 to enter and my 2 (huge) slices of cake came to £1.20. Basically £8.00 for unlimited free coffee as I rode around, a pub had been opened specially for us. Our brevet cards had been printed and there were 149 other riders who all shared the same interest as me. Brilliant.
After saying my goodbyes I set off on my lumpy return route. It was a great ride home, mainly in daylight. A new on bike energy strategy was deployed. Cashew butter and sea salt sandwiches. I cannot recommend these enough. They provided the energy required to turn the pedals and get me home, getting some PRs on the way(!)
Mechanical number 3 came within a mile of my house when the chain snapped again. I decided to walk it back rather than fix it this time. I maintain my bike meticulously and can say that my chain lasted 3500 miles, which is ok I suppose for an 11 speed chain. YMMV.
