So who else is hoping to do this? I know a couple of people mentioned it in the plans for 2017 thread. I am hoping to but have to wait until the 20th to enter, apparently over 300 have already registered last night who were eligible for early entry.
For those not familiar:
[url= https://londonedinburghlondon.com/about/ ]LEL about[/url]
I was going to, and still might, ask about this type of event, having watched the TCR video.
Where's the enjoyment? Just looks ****ing hard!
How much do you sleep? I take it it's all eating quickly too, no showers etc?
I feel I should give audaxing a go, but think I could hack that for a few days at most.
I feel I should give audaxing a go
Perhaps if its your first audax you might be better off trying something a little more conservative 🙂
Its another enjoyable variant in cycling. The best value cake to entry fee I can think of.
I was going to but have entered the Mille Pennines instead - 400km shorter but an awful lot hillier 🙂
I was going to but have entered the Mille Pennines instead - 400km shorter but an awful lot hillier
Too much hills, my legs hurt thinking about it, had a big DNF rate last year didn't it? You done it before?
Not done it before, 600 is my max to date. I know a chap who made it with 2 hours to spare, if he can do it then I [i]should[/i] be able to but definately need to up the training!
I decided to skip it this time, having managed to fit in only one 100k audax in the whole of 2016!
I've ridden a couple of flatter 200k audax, and they were fine. Have my eye on doing a few of them this year, and stepping up to 300k next year. After that, 400k isn't that big a jump - when my glass is half full, at least.
Anyone interested should try and track down any issues of Arrivee, the AUK magazine, which have articles on the last one. AUKs do like to ramble on about how horrific these events are. Sure I read somewhere that the guy who was first back to London in 2013 didn't sleep till Thirsk on the return leg - but I'm not sure how he could do that without running ahead of control opening times?
Someone on here did it* last time and posted some great stuff about it, and had a blog. A search might find it
*Edit - it was ir-bandito, but I can't find the actual thread - presumably buried about half way through his 200+ pages of threads!
Permission granted, just waiting for the general entries to become available. Currently my first Audax is going to be the BCM. 😯
BCM sold out before I thought about signing up for it, same as London Wales London annoyingly which I had written down to enter but somehow forgot. Thinking about doing the BCM route late June'ish for a practice as it looks a good route and not sure the other calender 600's work for me calendar wise.
Permission granted, just waiting for the general entries to become available. Currently my first Audax is going to be the BCM.
Nothing like a gentle introduction 😉
I'm doing the BCM too, second time (did it in 2015). It's a great ride, loads of food, nice route.
Nothing like a gentle introduction 😉
.....and that's nothing like, etc, etc! 😆
LEL was the first Audax I entered, but will be the 20th ridden.
(I got a place in the early entry last year. Also managed to grab a BCM place and to be honest I'm more worried about that one.)
- it was ir-bandito
Indeed, twas I. First and only audax to date
I'll find the blog somewhere. But never again, means never again.
I'm doing the Mega this year anyway, so no time.
I'll be at the Thirsk control. Thinking about either:
Riding to London after my duties are done and train back. or Train down and ride up the night before.
Really is a great event.
Great read that. Bucket load of respect to you.
Forgot how great that blog was.
Feel slightly embarrassed that I have only managed to enter a 100k audax this weekend, but at least I've entered something!
That blog makes it sound enjoyable
200 miles a day for 4.5 days.
Pretty damn hardcore, although at least its fairly flat.
Tempting, but may be biting off more than i could chew.
Not far home from Edinburgh though if i needed to bail out.
Thinking about it... It's on at a very good time for me. Will need to source a hub dynamo to charge garmin and run lights. I do like a nice night ride or few.
Will AUK rules apply for bikes - mudguards, specifically?
Mudguard rules vary on each event. Not as strict as it used to be, encouraged as a courtesy to other riders and cafe owners in wet weather.
Will AUK rules apply for bikes - mudguards, specifically?
Not that i am aware off, Very few events now require mudguards. But think seriously about it, Its a seriously long time in the saddle without worrying about a wet arse, also think about riding in groups, if you get others wet they won;t want to ride with you, So less help and company.
Both Paris Breast Paris and London Edinburgh London have become very laid back in the traditional rules.
Lots of people had support vehicles in the last PBP. For LEL there will be bag drops so if can run battery etc you can place them in your bag along with a change of clothing that will be sent to the relevant control. Or get a mate to follow you in a car charging your lights during the day.
I'm pretty sure it will all be signposted as well so you will only need a garmin to track. (Unless you get lost)
If your on Facebook the LEL2017 Facebook group is full of help and organisers/control staff regularly go on so can help with any advice.
I'm looking to enter on the 20th when entries open definitely.
Once the kids are a bit older I'd like to get back into this stuff, but I always struggle to find LEL calling to me louder than PBP, given that it has British roads, British drivers, British weather and, worst of all, no kouign amann 🙂
I'll read Bandito's blog, though, see if that turns me…
Can anyone elaborate how riders are getting water resupplies?
From most of the photo's i've seen, most are only carrying 2x750ml (3hrs).
Obviously no problem stocking up in more densely populated areas and during normal opening hours, but what about in more remote areas and late at night?
Can anyone elaborate how riders are getting water resupplies?
The control points are every 50 miles or so, so approx every 3 hours.
At each one, there is water, food (LOTS of food), showers and beds. Can do two bag-drops to send kit ahead.
I'm pretty sure it will all be signposted
Its not. Route and gpx published in advance, the rest is up to you. There will be a few signs to guide you into control points, but not many.
I pre-rode pretty much all of the course in various chunks so had a good idea what to expect.
Or get a mate to follow you in a car charging your lights during the day
Strictly not allowed. Although how they police it is anyone's guess.
Or get a mate to follow you in a car charging your lights during the dayStrictly not allowed. Although how they police it is anyone's guess.
According to the website, it does seem to be allowed (sort of).
Have to register the support vehicle in advance, which will then be allowed into some of the control points. Support crews will be given an alternate route between controls, and if caught on route rider will be disqualified.
Of at least that's how I read it.
The control points are every 50 miles or so, so approx every 3 hours.
Cheers. I realised there were plenty of controls, but hadn't quite figured out they were that evenly spread.
The controls are run by volunteers, iirc the volunteers get priority entry for the next one. Quite fancied that if we weren't already away that week. Would be a great way to see the workings of the event if you weren't sure this year.
Edit - shame about allowing support cars. I appreciate it's a long event but self sufficiency was one of the big things about audax, impossible to police but wouldn't want the event to be undermined by semi supported riders.
There's a control roughly every 80km, which should be fine with 1.5l of water.
I usually only use about 3l of water on a 200k ride. The first 1.5l goes quick but then I reach saturation point and only need a slow trickle to stay hydrated.
Plus you drink less at night when it's cool.
Reminded by this thread, I've just entered my first Audax. 200km rather than 1400, but it's a start! 😀
Good luck to all those going much, much further than me!
Strictly not allowed. Although how they police it is anyone's guess.
For 2017 it is, £100 to register your car.
Its not. Route and gpx published in advance, the rest is up to you. There will be a few signs to guide you into control points, but not many.
I pre-rode pretty much all of the course in various chunks so had a good idea what to expect.
I checked up on this and there will be signposting. although not the full route.
A lot has changed since the last one. In some ways i think its a shame, its different to old school addax, but on the other hand it really is opening it up to the new market of "adventure riders" and the more riders the better on an event of this scale.
For a lot of people also the ability to enter without a SR series of events, 200,300,400 and 600k certainly is bonus.
For a lot of people also the ability to enter without a SR series of events, 200,300,400 and 600k certainly is bonus.
Blimey, hadn't realised that it had been dumbed down like that.
And signposting? Does that make it a (long) sportive?
I've looked into it and a quarter of the route will be signposted. So as ir_bandito said it will probably be run ins to controls. Route sheets and gps to get you about.
The fact it has been dumbed down a bit is certainly an appeal to me.
No need to travel a long way to do qualifying events, guaranteed places to sleep, gpx files and signposting for irritating micro-navigation around control points.
Maybe it will devalue the event for some people, maybe it will lead to underprepared riders and higher rate of abandons, but for me it's more a case of smoothing off the most unpleasant edges whilst still maintaining the guts of the challenge.
I don't think it ever required an SR for qualification like PBP did it?
Certainly 2013 didn't need a SR series to prequalify.
Blimey, hadn't realised that it had been dumbed down like that.
And signposting? Does that make it a (long) sportive?
I'm only a beginner at audax, but I can see why people are saying stuff like this. I can understand encouraging more people to try events, but it would lose part of its appeal if it became too "sportive-y". Difficult balancing act to get right for organisers.
I can't help but notice the apparent correlation between the lack of qualification and the permission of support cars.
I can understand encouraging more people to try events, but it would lose part of its appeal if it became too "sportive-y".
Hmm. I can understand encouraging more people to try events that are within their reach. I'm not convinced it would be a fantastic idea to encourage people to do a 1400 if they hadn't at least done a 600. (And if you can do a 600, the 200 and 300 at least are easy to knock out anyway).
That said, I've remembered that a while back I planned out a rather splendid route to do a full SR in one hit, so I'm sticking with that as my goal* 🙂
* goal, pipedream, whatever
2 days to go until entries open and i'm still dithering.
Has anyone any advice regarding logistics to/from the start/finish?
Don't particularly fancy a train journey down and a day in London (for registration) in my cycling kit, and fancy the return journey in week old sweaty kit even less.
Guess in theory non-cycling clothes could be placed in one of the 2 drop bags and spend its time in transit?
The LEL facebook group or the YACF forum (they have a dedicated LEL sub-forum under "Audax" will probably get you the answer. FWIW I was planning to stay in the Premier Inn at Waltham Abbey before the start, and have family pick me up at the finish.
Much as I like cycling, no cycling event is worth touching facebook!
Family pickup at the finish would indeed be a preferable option, but would involve convincing my dad a 9hr each way drive would a fun idea....
Hmmm, if leaving kit at the start is not possible, how about leaving in a locker at a local leisure centre, then go there after for a shower and pick up fresh kit?
Or cycle home ? 🙂
Yeh the YACF lot will be able to confirm but I think there is a camp site near by that does a discount that a lot them use and you can leave your car there all week.
Think they are looking at about 150 places in each ballot for Friday from the last update I've seen
Today's the day, good luck on getting a place to all applying
Its another enjoyable variant in cycling. The best value cake to entry fee I can think of.
love Audaxing. will always remember the Mosstrooper a few years ago (Morpeth, cumbria, scotland, Morpeth - 300k) pulled up to a checkpoint in the middle of Northumberland. guy in a landrover had the best selection of traybakes I have ever seen. the flapjack was the best flapjack I have ever eaten. 6 quid entry fee 🙂
And the website crashes on 6!
In!
Had a place, the basket crashed. Thanks recaptur. Not sure I can be bothered for the next two rounds.
They just commented on FB it sold out in two minutes and lots of disgruntled people who couldnt get on or had it crash in basket
Congrats @greentricky.
I've more or less decided not to bother this time round and reconsider for 2021. I'd need to spend a chunk of cash on bike (either upgrading boardman cx or something new), and more importantly, spend a valuable weeks annual leave suffering, and not sure i'm mentally in the game for epic suffering this year.
yeh I found the weeks leave bit the hardest to justify, not sure why they can't run it over a weekend to shorten the amount of leave needed but am sure there is a good reason
I'm in! Must have hit refresh a thousand times. It'll have cost me a new laptop track pad! 
No joy. Another in the basket but no checkout. This on a poor connection from a Welsh farmhouse. Why couldn't they run a lottery instead, since payment is not required until the end of the month?
No joy. Another in the basket but no checkout. This on a poor connection from a Welsh farmhouse. Why couldn't they run a lottery instead, since payment is not required until the end of the month?
I suspect the 'first come first served' arrangement was the simplest and least costly. AUK is a relatively small club with limited financial (and IT) resources, run by members who give up their free time to fulfil the various admin posts; similarly the event organisers and the volunteers who help them are doing it purely for the love of cycling. It is not a profit making business like the sportive companies.
I would suggest that you join AUK: existing members who belonged before March 2015 had guaranteed entry to this year's LEL.
And again... :-(. Enjoy the ride, those who got in. Can't even get on the waiting list!
That blog is a great read @ir_bandito!
I do agree with your last comment though about other people's routes. I'm very happy to be inspired by other people's routes but then I like to plan my own thing.
£19 membership has paid off for some then.
Volunteering at controls used to get you an entry for the next one - would be a great way to get a taste for it as well. Mechanics would especially be appreciated.
Volunteering still gets you in for next time.the Facebook group is full of disgruntled people, its definitely tough that a lot of people have a ticket in the basket and it crashes on order and then refresh and sold out, massively flakey site.they just posted a screen shot of then getting a million hits in the last twenty four hours but think lots of that is people with multiple tabs and devices smashing refresh
Just made the mistake of watching the promo video on the road.cc site, and strangely thought "I wonder if....."
100k audax already booked for next month, loads of time to build up for 2021! 😀
Any one got around to picking their start times yet? I am thinking afternoon start time but not given it much thought, think its open until the end of March to pick
Everyone get thier preferred start time? I'm a 1230 start
my GP and his pal are in for it I think..
Anyone know how any forumites are getting on?
A friend of mine (occasional forum dweller) started 12:45 on Sunday and should be in Lockerbie tonight (on the way North, not South yet!) to have some sleep.
Some great photos on the Audax facebook page from some of the controls.
Just passed some of them on the way into Barnard Castle this afternoon.Guy I spoke to said he was on his way to Moffat.Must easily be 10 o'clockish before he gets there.Quite a lot did have pretty grim looks on their faces !
Anyone know how any forumites are getting on?
Does numplumz still post on here? He instagrammed from halfway about an hour ago.