June 2005

Audax riding and new challenges

New plan is start long distance challenge rides. Audax is a name given to such rides that are controlled by a national body AUK, and can lead to awards if you like that sort of thing. Of course I do.

An audax is not a race but you do have to complete the course within a certain time frame - neither too fast or too slow. I think a typical average pace (to include rest breaks) is 15 - 20 kph. The distances involved vary, I will be sticking to 100 km rides before trying 200 km. The sky is the limit though, there are grand 1400 km rides like London to Edinburgh (and back to London again) and another biggy is London-Paris-London. Ridiculous eh?

The rides seem a bit like orienteering, you are given a route card at the start line and have to find your way to assorted checkpoints where you have to get your card stamped and information points where you need to answer a question - to prove you were there.

The AUK organise awards to encourage participation in ever longer rides, you can have a badge for completing 10 100 km rides in a year or become a super randonneur for completing a 100, 200, 400 and 600 km in a year.

Details can be found on the AUK website http://www.audax.uk.net although be warned it is a bit tricky to navigate. The main point of interest is the calendar so you can find any suitable rides in your area.

I've signed myself up for the West London Sightseer, a 100 km trip around the London tourist sites.

June 2005

Me and Peryl get re-acquainted

I've had a few teething problems with Peryl the Airnimal Chameleon, since I got her nearly 3 months ago.
No real problems, it was just a shock to the system to move from the comfort of a hybrid with front suspension to a twitchy, road bike. I had aches and pains particularly in my elbows and wrists but the main problem was the price. It is a shockingly expensive machine and I suppose it has to be said that I can't quite afford it. Don't get me wrong, I have paid for it, but really I can't warrant such an outlay. Now that its my only bike I have worries about trips like going to the hairdressers and the shops - I just don't want to leave her outside.

June 2005

Running - Its Bad for your health

Dunno what possessed me, but I got up at 6.30 on Monday and went for a run. I know.... flippin crazy!
Actually it was a lovely bright morning and Shakti rang all positive and up for a jog so we did it. I live right on the bank of the Thames so its a lovely thing to do, trouble is I'm now almost completely crippled.

June 2005

Homicidal Bus Driver

Rather uncharacteristically I took the bus in this morning. I adopted the zombie state that seems to be required for such passive commuting trips but was jolted awake by abuse shouted by the driver. We had just approached Hammersmith Bridge at the same time as another bus came off it and the driver seemed to be doing his best to sandwich a cyclist in between and give him a bit of verbal just for good measure.

Not content with this the driver then drove alongside the cyclist, appeared to be pushing him to the kerb and then threatened to run him over.

I have just sent my complaint to TFL and I imagine a number of the other passengers will too - there was quite a murmuring of discontent on board. In fact one of the passengers stepped up furiously and sorted the driver out, he almost got himself a standing ovation. This is quite positive actually, last time I was on that bus all I heard was tutting as cyclists passed by.