Audax Rides

[schroeds]

all up it sounds great fun, with cool people and if you lot are anything to go, by the audax attitude is spot on

thanks all, I will join you at some stage

[HappyHumber]

Officially it's non competitive. You do invariably get a bit of friendly rivalry comparing completion times between a few of the more experienced guys, but that's just part of it for them. Certainly noone in my experience has ever been shunned for coming in way after everyone else. It's personal achievement first and foremost.

I think the only case where you might get a bit of stick is if you have repeated failures of equipment and you don't sort yourself and you're repeatedly reliant on others. This means you'd be taking advantage of their generosity and compromising their own completion chances. Self sufficiency and preparedness is a big part of it.

[casual_cyclist]

How does a 1200km ride actually work, what would the average person do, 300 per day?

The Perth-Albany-Perth wasn't set up like that. Day one was 425km, day two finished at the 678km mark, day three finished at 1006km and day four at slightly over 1219km. This was arranged around accomodation so that riders could sleep if need be. By my calculations, that would make day 1 = 425km, day 2 = 253km, day 3 = 328 km and day 4 = 213km. Of course, this isn't compulsory, so a rider could do 300/300/300/300 if they wanted to.

[casual_cyclist]

Certainly noone in my experience has ever been shunned for coming in way after everyone else.

That's me! and no, I have not ever been shunned for coming in way after everyone else...

Some stories from the field...

first 100km ride ever: http://casualcyclist.wordpress.com/2009 ... de-report/
first 200km ride ever: http://casualcyclist.wordpress.com/2009 ... de-report/
that time I broke my knee on a ride and didn't even know: http://casualcyclist.wordpress.com/2009 ... de-report/
that time I rode a partly hilly 100km ride two weeks after breaking my knee... good times! : http://casualcyclist.wordpress.com/2009 ... de-report/
Lot's more ride reports here if you are interested: http://casualcyclist.wordpress.com/log-of-audax-rides/

[schroeds]

Day one was 425km, day two finished at the 678km mark, day three finished at 1006km and day four at slightly over 1219km..... riders could sleep if need be.

riders could sleep if needs be

[HappyHumber]

Day one was 425km, day two finished at the 678km mark, day three finished at 1006km and day four at slightly over 1219km..... riders could sleep if need be.

riders could sleep if needs be

Past a certain point, mental fatigue management comes into play more so than the physical.

I have done my personal best of two 400km rides in the last year. You're getting to around 20 hours elapsed time there - so nearly a full circadian turn of the body clock. You mind does began to go gaga, and you feel your reflexes dulling. This is where it can get dangerous.

The first of these rides I managed fine. I was riding with a good small group playing stupid word games and such keeping each other distracted and amused. The second of these rides, the group I was with spread out between the last checkpoint and 70km to go til the finish. Without having the distraction of others my mind started doing slow somersaults in my skull and I realised my senses were being filtered through clag glue. I chose a quiet, sheltered and dark spot to lay down for a power nap. As I still had plenty of time in reserve, I resolved to stop no more than an hour depending how soundly I slept. I don't think I was in much danger of sleeping too soundly, because otherwise being comfortable enough laying on some diluted sandy mulch, with my helmet as a pillow - there was the odd f&(%* mosquito whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

As it turns out, I managed about 40 minutes shallow napping before another rider came past and disturbed me. We spoke only briefly and he pressed on. But it was enough to have snapped me out of the drowse and feel refreshed, so I got up, and had a bit of stretch, caught up with that guy and just rode it home casually nattering to him.

Some individuals can get away with less sleep. Good ride prep for the rides of approaching 24 hours and beyond is get as much sleep leading upto the event as possible.

[casual_cyclist]

Day one was 425km, day two finished at the 678km mark, day three finished at 1006km and day four at slightly over 1219km..... riders could sleep if need be.

riders could sleep if needs be

Past a certain point, mental fatigue management comes into play more so than the physical.

I rode the oppy (24 hour cycling event) a couple of years ago in a team of 4. I got 1/2 hour sleep and rest of the team had no sleep. I found out I only needed sleep because I had a serious viral infection at the time.

On PBP - another 1200km event, To sleep or not

With the many levels of riders and paces at which they ride, there are many different tactics that can be employed. Those who go for the best time possible will ride straight through without sleep, which adds greatly to the burden of the event.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/ ... ent_190550
This means cycling for around 44 hours without sleeping.

As Kym mentioned, mental fatigue management becomes an issue. I recall on my first 300km ride suffering from mental fatigue. My legs were fine but I had trouble focussing. Long hours of being awake takes it's toll. Here is how one rider described the PBP:

I remember little about the final day. Controls came and went, we raided a patisserie to break the monotony of overcooked pasta and sauce, and we rode two-up for most of the day. Eternal thanks, by the way, to the Willesden CC rider who gave me some chewing gum to help me stay awake. My head was nodding and I was struggling to keep my eyes open, so something else to focus on was a welcome distraction.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2011/09/paris ... ver-again/
Good times!