This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike Hall

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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Any route that contains a section called the Staircase is vaguely worrying
Possibly even worse when you call it by its full title of, 'Devils Staircase' :-bd
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Wilkyboy »

Bearbonesnorm wrote:
Any route that contains a section called the Staircase is vaguely worrying
Possibly even worse when you call it by its full title of, 'Devils Staircase' :-bd
But it's a pretty ugly piece of road-engineering. Fortunately there are some bigger, harder, more interesting climbs that follow it before the long, deceptively curvy descent to Tregaron.
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

But it's a pretty ugly piece of road-engineering. Fortunately there are some bigger, harder, more interesting climbs that follow it before the long, deceptively curvy descent to Tregaron.
Yes and I always think the climb up from Dolgoch side is much worse (than the famous side) ... longer, false summit and no distracting switchbacks :-bd
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Dyffers »

ZeroDarkBivi wrote: Anybody want to explain what this AUK points thing is all about for the uninitiated? Do they make prizes?
Some light reading about Audax: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Wilkyboy »

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:Anybody want to explain what this AUK points thing is all about for the uninitiated? Do they make prizes?
If you regularly ride audaxes, esp. year-on-year, then they're a great way to measure your season's performance.

If you ride RRTY then points can mean an individual award/badge, eventually. (I need one 200+ in October at audax pace and I'm up to 60 straight months ... sad, I know ... but there are some in the 200+ straight months!)

If you ride audaxes every week then there's a slim chance you might get more points than everyone else and be awarded a trophy.

Otherwise, points don't mean an awful lot on a one-off basis. Would Mike have gone for the points merely because they were there? I don't know. But riding within the stiffer "BR" (points-awarded) time limit does suitably add to the challenge.

FWIW, 200s earn 2 points, 300s earn 3 points, 400s = 4 points and 600s = 6 points. 100s don't earn anything at all because they just aren't very far for a long-distance cyclist (e.g. audax rider).
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Wilkyboy »

Dyffers wrote:
ZeroDarkBivi wrote: Anybody want to explain what this AUK points thing is all about for the uninitiated? Do they make prizes?
Some light reading about Audax: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0
Alternatively: http://www.camaudax.uk/audax/.
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by ScotRoutes »

Audax. Like stamp collecting for cyclists.
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Wilkyboy »

Bearbonesnorm wrote:
But it's a pretty ugly piece of road-engineering. Fortunately there are some bigger, harder, more interesting climbs that follow it before the long, deceptively curvy descent to Tregaron.
Yes and I always think the climb up from Dolgoch side is much worse (than the famous side) ... longer, false summit and no distracting switchbacks :-bd
I can believe it, but I've not ridden it that way around.

FWIW, this Kinesis promo shot of Mike was taken just below the Devil's Staircase — I've only been there once, but recognised it straight away. It seems fitting the routes should head that way.

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Last edited by Wilkyboy on Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Wilkyboy »

ScotRoutes wrote:Audax. Like stamp collecting for cyclists.
:-bd (but don't tell Mrs W)
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by 99percentchimp »

Oh go on then..... 300 slow for me too.... more likely slow than 300 ;-)
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Crazy English »

300 slow for me too
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by JustinF »

300 slow for me too, 400 route is still an option but I'm not convinced I wouldn't be biting off more than I can chew.
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Carson »

signed up for the 400 Populaire - maybe see some of you guys out there :-bd
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Crow »

I will be giving the 300 slow a whirl. Apart from the odd trail centre I haven't ridden in Wales for a long time, anyone remember the Iron Lemming weekends? I will probably fall back on my default Nano 40cc tyres. Looking forward to it already. :-bd
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by j.c.gillies »

So you know. I've updated the website to include an accommodation page. http://tinat.cymru/the-know/accomadation/
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Dave Barter »

Good reminder. I've entered now
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I might draw up a list of hedges in and around Builth :wink:
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by slightly »

300 Slow - I don't expect to finish, just want to be part of it...
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by GregMay »

Quite looking forward to a nice reflective ride around this.
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by 99percentchimp »

slightly wrote:300 Slow - I don't expect to finish, just want to be part of it...
Me and some mates can drag you between pubs and a sleep in a hedge...... we're hoping it'll be fun

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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Mike »

Aw and myself are signing up for the 300s when I get around to paying :-bd
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Aw and myself are signing up for the 300s when I get around to paying :-bd
What you're gonna do both of 'em?
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by j.c.gillies »

And I created a page about a Sunday post ride social. Early days yet but it provides the idea. http://tinat.cymru/the-social/
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by jameso »

hog roast, local real ale and a local band
:-bd if that happens. I look forward to falling asleep in a field after my second recovery ale..
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Re: This Is Not A Tour - new Audax events in memory of Mike

Post by psling »

Bearbonesnorm wrote:
But it's a pretty ugly piece of road-engineering. Fortunately there are some bigger, harder, more interesting climbs that follow it before the long, deceptively curvy descent to Tregaron.
Yes and I always think the climb up from Dolgoch side is much worse (than the famous side) ... longer, false summit and no distracting switchbacks :-bd
The Devil's Staircase was always a favourite in the old Milk Races. I've cleared the classic westbound climb a few times but can't remember having ever managed the eastbound climb in one go :oops:
The Tregarron to Abergwesyn / Abergwesyn to Tregarron road in either direction is one all riders of narrow strips of tarmac should do - it is a true wild undulating route (normally accompanied by a ferocious headwind or driving rain!) :cool:
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
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