Recommendations for beginners?

[hartleymartin]

Hi everyone. I've done some cycle touring and recreational riding in the past. I was wondering what are recommended rides for beginners who want to get into Audax/Randonneuring.

I would be interested in some of the shorter beginner rides and when they turn up in the calendar.

[HappyHumber]

a little cumbersome as it is.... use the calendar search function from the club website to filter by your home state and distance range.

The time limit allowances to complete the various distances are quite liberal; but you do have to remember the time limit is total elapsed time, not moving time - so breaks for coffee, pie & vanilla snot block en-route needs to be factored in.

[tcdev]

vanilla snot block

Had to Google this. Despite it being a staple of my Friday lunches for 6 years of high school, I have never heard the term. Thanks!

[Thoglette]

The time limit allowances to complete the various distances are quite liberal; but you do have to remember the time limit is total elapsed time, not moving time - so breaks for coffee, pie & vanilla snot block en-route needs to be factored in.

ok, inquisitive idiot time - which button is hiding the time limit?

[Aushiker]

ok, inquisitive idiot time - which button is hiding the time limit?

As I understand it is based on 15 km/h overall. Kim I am sure can confirm or correct.

EDIT: See https://www.audax.org.au/public/riderinfo/time-limits

[Arbuckle23]

vanilla snot block

Had to Google this. Despite it being a staple of my Friday lunches for 6 years of high school, I have never heard the term. Thanks!

Sheltered life

[tcdev]

Sheltered life

I asked my wife and she suggested that the term was "made up" by HappyHumber. Of course, the number of hits in Google put paid to her theory.

I noticed one link claimed it was a "Victorian" term. I tend to avoid that state when I can since nothing good ever came from there. Plus, well, Melbourne is there.

[LateStarter]

"Shorter" is of course a relative term. A lot of the rides out of Northern Sydney, Hornsby etc, involve climbs at the start, end and in between. Rides starting in the west can be flatter until you start hitting the mountains. There is though still a lot of very pleasant riding on quieter roads. Some of the best are the night ones like the coming Newcastle Overnight (172 kms) , lot of company most of the way but often very dark, quiet bits where you can be on your own, just you and the bike and great support too.

I took up Audaxing because I couldn't find the time for longer touring, people said it was just "faster touring" so I started just using my Vivente tourer, rack, mud guards, 37mm marathons and 1 kg kickstand and all, even a pannier to carry my several kgs of food and tools with 2.5 L of water, they said you were supposed to be self supporting. Did my first 20 200km brevets with the Vivente but slowly (bit of a slow learner) dispensing with heavier bits.