Slowly pulling into a car park in a location previously unknown to me, circling around tentatively looking around for signs that I was in the right place.The car was parked and out I got. Beside me was another man I immediately identified as Mike Hall, the man I'd emailed before. This was the right place.
Don't worry - this isn't an account of a dogging experience, I promise you that.
This was my first Audax. The "Mr Pickwick's January Sale", a 200km cycle from Tewkesbury on the first Saturday of 2015 where sunshine was guaranteed.
The search for suitable training was on since I'd signed up for the Transcontinental and Audax appeared for the first time on my radar. Sure I'd heard of it before, but I'd never looked into what it entails. The man I mentioned in my opening paragraph is, infact, the organiser of the Transcontinental. These are my thoughts on my inaugural Audax...
People - I could immediately identify with all everyone I met bustling for a coffee in the Wetherspoons at 8am. On introducing myself to a few riders I sat down and had a chat with Chris. What I had in common was that everyone there is what I would call a cyclist. Not some poser talking about expensive gear they've bought. Not someone who wanted to tell me how many KOMs they'd taken. Everyone seemed to me to be just people who loved being on their bike, whatever the weather, whatever the reason. That I could identify with.
Weather - in short - the worst weather I've ever ridden in. It was torrential rain. Witnessed before, yes, but this time it lasted for almost 5 hours! After 5 minutes I couldn't have possibly been wetter so it didn't matter. Press on, Plenty of banter with the other riders about how nice it had turned out today. Ha.
Route - 200k is a decent length route for me. I've done longer in the past but it still represented a challenge. Not too lumpy. I was hoping to take in more of the scenery as this was my debut on Gloucestershire roads. From what I could make out it all looked ok to me and I can now confirm that heavy rain looks the same anywhere!
Cakes - The fruit scone at control 1 (Rowberry's Nursery) was nice but 3/4 of the way round in my calorie depleted state the raspberry and apple flapjack was pure heroin to my body, Recommended. If you're in Chipping Norton - check it out - it's at the The Old Mill Cafe.
Hills - the only hill that made my legs hate me was Edgehill. If there is anything to be learned from this. 12-25t isn't the choice of the first time Audaxer. Get something more friendly. Maybe a 12-28t.
Problems - No one wants to be "that guy". Sadly I was. It was getting dark and I went to turn my main front light on. The rain had killed it and my backup light was only a blinky. People could see me but it wasn't bright enough to light my path. I was somewhere rural, miles from home with 30 odd kilometers left until I was back. I decided to have a fig roll and then set about disassembling my light, drying the components as I reassembled. Nope. Not playing ball. What to do. I know. Another fig roll. 170km down eating does seem to solve some problems. At that point my new hero Steven (I think) turned up. I explained my problem and he offered to ride side by side with me back to base. What a legend. This feat of comradeship earned him a bowl of chips on our return.
So - 1st Audax, hammered it down with rain, lights failed - surely it was a terrible experience?
I loved it. Am riding another this coming Sunday in Winchester - The Watership Down - maybe see you on the road?
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