Roses to Wrags (200k)
23rd April 2005

I had a long break from audax for various reasons (like breaking my wrist in January) over the winter...

The first ride I was able to do was a 200 on 23rd April from Alfreton. This was a repeat of the ride I did last year with the same route; the only difference being the location of the start/finish and the info control. Having done it before, it held no terrors and I was still reasonably fit having commuted my 30 miles per day all through the winter even with an arm in plaster and splint for 6 weeks.

This was also the first Audax for my new Orbit bicycle. The new Brooks Swift saddle I had installed on it had only done about 80km but felt comfortable enough on the rides I had done thus far on it. I gave the bike the once over the night before and packed the saddlebag, filled the bottles (one with 5% GO and one with water). I had run out of maize porage so had to settle for cereal and toast for breakfast before setting off for Alfreton at about 6:50am. The start was at a different location from last year, being a very nice community hall with free parking. There were a huge crowd of bikes; over 100 entrants – by far the largest Audax I had ever been on. I got my brevet card from Tom and said hello to several riders I had seen on previous rides, including Stewart from JE James whom i had ridden with the previous year.

8am and we were off – I got off on the front and fell in with the front crowd who turned out to be the super fit fast guys.... The weather was overcast and cool with a moderate 12-15mph easterly wind. The first leg to Rosies Café near Gainsborough was against the wind all the way. I tucked into the slipstream of the lead peleton and decided to keep up. This proved to be a cracking ride averaging some 35kph for much of the way. Surprisingly, it was quite pleasant and keeping up was not muchj of a problem on the flattish terrain. However, about 15km short of the control, the lead group spied a tractor just ahead when turning onto an A road and all got up and sprinted to follow pushing the pace up to over 45kph for a short while. I and a few others decided that discretion was the better part of valour and let them get on with it! This left a group of about 5 or 6 of us. I recognised Paul Rogers, another I did the ride with the previous year. His other, Louise, was in Cyprus, I believe, so was not on the ride. Another I recognised was Joe. Another I discovered to be named Charles but I forget the names of the others. This group then became our peleton for the rest of the ride.

Rosies hove into view at 10:04 giving a leg average of pretty much 30kph – a cracking ride given the headwind! Beans on toast, tea and brevet card stamped, we left at about 10:30. The next section was also slightly into the wind but we managed to maintain a good average on the flattish terrain. The pub in Wragby is very pleasant and the Tuna Mayonnaise baguette with orange and soda went down very well.

Then it was on to Newark via the info control. Gentle tailwind most of the way and the level of effort required lessened for the same speed. The sun also came out and all was very pleasant. The Gannet in Newark was as nice as last year and we sat in the sun in the little back area eating our cakes and drinking tea.

The final slightly lumpier leg to Alfreton was also done in good time although we did stop for a few minutes about half way to let Joe catch up after having dropped off and continued at a more leisurely pace.

Finished at 5pm with tea and cake. All in all, a cracking and very fast ride. Had good company and conversation. The stops were a little longer than last year but the overall audax was faster. The Orbit performed well, it is comfortableand responsive and the geartrain is nice and smooth. More comfortable than my T800 even though it only has 25mm tyres compared with 35mm and no suspension seatpost. No problems with the Brooks.

What did I forget this time – nothing, really! Must be getting better....

Statistics:

Bicycle:
Orbit Photon with Carradice Saddle Bag.
Schwalbe Stelvio.
Tools: Crank Brothers multitool, puncture repair kit.
Spares: 2 tubes, chain powerlinks, 2 AA batteries, front and rear LED lights.
Antibonk rations: Marshmallows 200g.

Total distance: 212km
Moving time: 7h26 Moving average: 28.6kph
Total time: 9h01 Overall average: 23.5kph
Altitude gain over 212km: 1613m (1m resolution - GPS), 1165m (5m resolution – HAC4)


Audax Route.

Pieter Meiring, May 2005.

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