Audax 2005 Report

[simon simpson]

A report on the 2005 JWCC Audax

 

Audax UK / Ecosse have a policy of never publishing times for the ride but it's useful to give people an idea of how demanding etc etc.

 

The ride was 127 miles and took in the Kyber Pass(!), the Crow, Top of the World, Dukes Pass, The Katrine Circuit and 'The Snake's Back' to Drymen and then back to Johnstone via The Vale of Leven. Audax routes avoid main roads where possible and tend to be a bit rolling rather than flat blasts over a distance

 

It was very hot and sunny most of the day with a Southerly increasing throughout the day.

 

Twenty or so riders set off at 8 am and along the Georgetown to the bridge at a fair crack. By the bridge gaps were emerging as the ride split into 3 or so distinct groups of 7 or 8. On the hills to Strathblane the slower groups would split on the climbs and rejoin on the descents and flatter sections. This works a bit like a club run with nobody to pace the climb at a pace suiting everyone. Everyone seemed to recognise the use of sticking together which apart from anything else helps with following the route as a route sheet gets hard to read at 15 mph....

 

 

The groups were varied including riders from as far away as Manchester ( up on holiday and thought he'd join in) and a number from Edinburgh. The bikes were equally varied: from the JWCC showings of full carbon to proper touring bikes with 28mm tyres to a mountain bike with fat trekking tyres. As is usually the case the faster riders travelled light with small saddlepacks to a single pannier. Interestingly, the first rider home sported that much neglected, practical, and to many indispensible, British item: the traditional saddlebag (albeit a small one) supported on a great Scottish invention : the EDBRO Innovations saddlebag support (probably titanium).

 

As indicated by David McKellar, at Fintry there was a 'Control' with soup, sandwiches, biscuits, tea, water etc etc. The control element is to check nobody was done a cheeky shortcut and the feed station is common on Audax events where there is a distance between potential cafe stops / shops. I've even known an unscheduled control to appear to give everyone a warm drink after 30 miles into a sleety Easterly.

 

Most riders, including those in the first quarter home, had at least one, and sometimes 2, cafe stops at Aberfoyle's 'Wee Butt an' Ben' on The Katrine or Drymen Pottery.

 

Audax rules state a minimum (about 9 mph) and maximum (about 18 mph) average speed over the course which may sound slow to those used to time trialling, road racing etc. Back at the clubhouse Dave had to be in place for 20 to 3 in case someone was sitting on the line of 18mph. Helping hands (me , Joyce McKellar, Campbell) joined him in arranging drinks and a pasta feed for the returners. La Famillia Da Rosa joined us in the sun to see the Inverclyde Velo pair roll in at in at about 5:05 ( having taken 9 hours 5mins averaging about 14mph overall inc stops) Next was the scream as David McK was outsprinted by Dougie down Miller Street. "See, I've still got the old magic!" boasted one of them..... by the way guys I hope you didn't race up the hills! Robert Sharp had joined them on the Aberfoyle return section.

 

Groups came rolling in a few at a time, with Chung coming in around 11 hours (great time for your first 200) I think from his post you can see he was glad of the support and experience of those around him who had more experience at these distances.

 

Last rider came in just before 8, almost two hours within the time limit.

 

Martin Mulholland popped by and Scott Donaldson joined the back markers on the Crow and set off with JWCC riders from the Fintry feed zone.

 

So that's it... the first Audax to leave Miller Street for many years, well run and well ridden. As you can see it's a sort of sociable challenge... racing up hills is there for you if you want it but so are the cafe stops to recover...if you can't hack the group you are in you just drop back and find a slower one... except, of course, if you are at the back of the back group!

 

So watch this space so it can go in your diary for next year.....

 

 

Many thanks to Triking Dave for organisation.

 

ss

[simon simpson]

That's the 2006 report of course..lost a year of my life somewhere!

[Darryl Gunson]

Well done to Triking Dave and his team and congratulations to all who rode what is definitely a challenging course. Sounds like you all had a great day out. Hopefully, I'll be along next year.

 

cheers

DG